From May 28th to June 3rd, Granollers hosted an international m eeting as part of the Erasmus+ project “Granollers, Ieper and Dunkerque: Guiding Young People Towards Democracy”, with the participation of young people from Ypres (Belgium) and Dunkirk (France), along with eight local youths from Granollers and the surrounding area, aged between 18 and 21.

The initiative focused on historical memory, particularly the Spanish Civil War, taking advantage of the commemorative events marking the bombing of Granollers on May 31, 1938. Participants took part in activities such as the commemoration at the municipal cemetery and a visit to the Peace Forest. Such spaces offered reflection on the horrors of war and the importance of peace and democratic values.

All the activities were entirely designed and organized by the young people from Granollers and the region, who led workshops such as a TED Talk and a debate, promoting the exchange of ideas about current democratic challenges and the active role of youth.

The programme also included cultural experiences, such as a fire run with traditional “diables” and a human tower exhibition (“castellers”), both held during the Festes de l’Ascensió (Ascension Festival) of Granollers. These events allowed international participants to discover Catalan traditions firsthand.

This exchange provided a valuable opportunity to build connections between European youths, deepen understanding of the past, and strengthen their commitment to active and democratic citizenship.