interview 5
Luca de Tena Square
Throughout the city of Madrid, and especially from 2015 onwards, citizens’ initiatives of different scales have emerged, linked to care, to the creation of spaces for co-creation and to the assertion of the central role of children and young people in the city. Madrid Cría is an informal network of parents who have fought for better public spaces for families and free play in the city of Madrid.
Vane Sánchez Márquez
Madrid Cría
Thinking from a more ideal or utopic perspective, what wish would you formulate in relation to the construction and development of these policies?
That the next major of the city is a child
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No fences, no barriers, only green fields where children can play freely
Versatile, free, cozy spaces to enhance imagination.
Re-municipalizing services and spaces in our cities, currently held by private and corporate interests, will allow for collaborative practices, activate more citizen engagement by transferring more responsibilities and thus power to individuals and groups and help implement children centered cultural policies.
That every child in Madrid gets the opportunity to reimagine their neighbourhood.
that children and adults can have fun creating and using spaces together
That there would be a greater level of empathy throughout the process.
That the needs and voices of those with greatest need are met and heard.
Listen to the needs of the children with an open mind. Their ideas are not always taken into account and they have a lot to say and offer. They are the future.
The whole municipaliy`s expanding into new areas and it´s re-designing of existing places – are totaly demanding children´s saying/existence.
That children are supported and engaged as the researchers, mappers and producers of the ‘brief’ for initiatives and policies – maybe not just in issues that are considered as directly relating to childhood issues but to a wider set of issues that effect all. Especially when so many children, including very young ones, are carers themselves for adults and for the wider city (and indeed planet!)
Remove private automobiles – you will then have plenty of space (no parking areas, narrower streets).
This also increases safety for young children.
Madrid has several cultural spaces for children runned by children with adults respectful assistance .
even the ideal situation seems utopic