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DÉNIA, Spain — The Dénia City Council’s Youth Department concluded the European Erasmus+ Move-UP project last week, hosting young participants from across Europe in a two-day exchange of culture, heritage and environmental awareness.
Eight young people from Málaga and Beja (Portugal) spent July 14–15 at the Casal Jove (Youth Centre) in Dénia, sharing experiences with the town’s youth correspondents in a programme combining visits to local heritage sites, the city centre and the Mediterranean coast.
Participants explored Dénia’s history and culture through guided visits to the castle, museums and historic centre, alongside activities focused on the Mediterranean environment. A highlight was a workshop held aboard a catamaran in collaboration with the NGO Xaloc, dedicated to raising awareness about marine biodiversity and coastal protection.
The move-UP project involves partners from three territories: Maestrices from Málaga (Spain), Museus e Monumentos de Portugal from Beja, and the Dénia Youth Department, with technical support from the Valencian consultancy Sequoia Pro. After previous mobility phases in Málaga and Beja, Dénia took on the role of host city, showcasing its heritage and culture.
”These initiatives are important so that young people can learn about other realities without forgetting to love their own territory,” said Dénia mayor Rafa Carrió during the welcome address. ”Sharing our language, our culture, gastronomy and heritage with people from other countries is also a way of building a more cohesive Europe.”
Valentín Alcalà, the city’s Youth Councillor, added: ”We continue to champion real opportunities for Dénia’s young people to grow, travel, train and share experiences with other young Europeans. Projects like Move-UP show that Europe is also built from the municipalities and from spaces like the Youth Centre.”
The project’s partners praised the organisation and hospitality shown by Dénia’s youth team and Sequoia Pro, while local youth correspondents described the experience as ”unique,” expressing their desire to continue participating in similar European projects.
The Move-UP initiative — focused on youth participation, international cooperation and sustainability — has enabled young people from the three territories to share experiences, encourage environmental volunteering and forge new bonds of cooperation.
