Last Tuesday, April 21, six higher education students and three professors from the Greek city of Volos visited the Hortaleza district. Their stay in Madrid, which began on April 15, is part of a short-term Erasmus+ mobility program focused on learning about sustainability and social innovation initiatives.

During their tour, the delegation had the opportunity to visit the Silo viewpoint, an emblematic structure of the district. They also familiarized themselves with the Trae Tu Tupper initiative, which promotes the reduction of plastic use, and visited the community composting area of Pueblo de Hortaleza. Additionally, they observed the operation of the consumption group at Espacio Danos Tiempo and visited the community garden of AV La Unión.

Although time was limited, the Hortaleza district boasts a wide network of sustainability initiatives that could not be included in the tour. These include the Tienda Gratis de La Soci de Manoteras, other urban gardens such as those in Manoteras, Huerto del Mar, Villa Rosa, or Kúpina Morena de Sanchinarro, and the Mercado de Productores Valdebebas. Furthermore, there are various neighborhood platforms advocating for a healthier community, such as Salvar Hortaleza, Stop Fórmula 1 Madrid, and ¿Cantón? ¡Así No!

The local community emphasizes the importance of its social fabric, built over many years, which facilitates the development of ideas and alternatives for environmental care. This collaborative spirit allows local initiatives to transcend borders, even inspiring visitors from places as far away as Volos, Greece.

In this context of collaboration and commitment, Earth Day will be celebrated on Saturday, April 25, in the Josefa Arquero Gardens, organized by Espacio Danos Tiempo. Subsequently, on Saturday, May 23, the neighborhood association La Unión de Hortaleza will organize Arbor Day, inviting the community to participate in building a better world through local actions.