The research has a duration of 4 years and is financed by the Directorate General Scientific and Technical Research (Deputy Directorate General for Research Projects, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness). The project is led by the Research Group on Moral Education (GREM) and the Research Group on Intercultural Education (GREDI)

The main goal of the research is to increase the participation of children in the city and to reinforce their role as active citizens, by involving them in tackling this collective challenge. To achieve this, researchers will assess the state of play of children participation at IAEC Cities in Spain, and at Child Friendly Cities. With the proposals put forward by boys and girls, new child partipation formulas and co-designed actions and resources will be implemented.

Cities have to educate citizens in civic values and involve them in the construction of the city (Charter of Educating Cities, 2004). In the specific case of children, work is needed beyond the current approach, where participation initiatives often consider the youngest as ‘future citizens’. A qualitative leap in children’s participation in the city’s social and political dimension is needed, to recognise youth as active and engaged citizens. Children councils are one of the initiatives that cities undertake to increase children’s participation in public policies and to improve their quality of life. But we need to implement more participation projects, authentic and close to the smallest ones.

Researchers at Barcelona University will work together with the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Madrid), Seville University and La Coruña University.