A total of 180 children and teenagers from across Cartagena have successfully wrapped up their participation in ZONNA Summer, a municipal programme designed to offer an educational, active, and healthy leisure alternative during the school holidays. The programme, which ran from June 23 to July 17, involved young residents from ages 6 to 18 in a diverse variety of activities, ranging from educational workshops, traditional games, sports, and cultural excursions. 

Education, heritage, and summer wellbeing

The initiative was carried out by the Department of Social Policy, Equality, and Family of the Cartagena City Council, and is part of the work that ZONNA carries out throughout the year. Currently, this service helps around 400 children in different neighbourhoods and districts across the municipality.

A fun-filled summer programme for the young residents

The ZONNA Summer programme provides an alternative educational and social experience after the school year has officially ended, allowing the students to share their experiences, organise their free time, and continue developing their personal and social skills. This year’s edition of the workshops included leisure planning, education of values, and traditional games and activities. The young residents have also received advice on preventing the effects of high temperatures and using swimming pools, beaches, and other bathing areas responsibly.

During the summer, these activities are of special importance, when children’s free time increases, as well as their exposure to extreme heat.

Sports and culture: An unforgettable summer in Cartagena

One of the main highlights of the programme was the inclusion of sports activities and sightseeing in the beautiful areas of Cartagena. Through exercise and team games, the children had fun in an atmosphere of camaraderie, and the promotion of healthy habits, respect for rules, and collaboration.

The young explorers also participated in cultural outings around the municipality, learning about the fascinating history of the area and some of its most important heritage sites.

Inclusive support across nine distinct districts

Currently, ZONNA carries out its activities in nine areas of Cartagena: Los Dolores, Casco, San Anton, Barriada Virgen de la Caridad, Miranda, Santa Ana, Los Nietos, El Llano del Beal and Estrecho de San Gines.

The work of ZONNA is not limited only to the summer months, however. This programme offers educational leisure workshops and study support during the school year as well. It aims to foster personal, social, and academic development among young students in the municipality, and helps them in their social and academic development, all while creating safe spaces for interaction among children and teenagers.

All in all, the programme allowed nearly 200 children to enjoy several fun-filled weeks of learning, socialising, and community, making for an unforgettable summer in Cartagena.

Together with the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia, the Cartagena City Council has launched a local campaign of the HEATSAFE European project, an initiative aimed at preventing the effects of extreme heat. This project is a combination of informational campaigns, printed and digital materials, community activities, and local media outlets to strengthen the vulnerable residents’ protection against extreme heat until mid-August.

Protecting the most vulnerable populations

To be specific, the campaign will outline an array of self-protection habits and inform citizens, particularly regarding the groups most vulnerable to extreme heat including elderly people, young children, and people with conditions or health complications.

The HEATSAFE campaign forms part of the project outlined by the Interreg Euro-MED programme, which supports measures of adaptation against extreme heat in Europe, which has in recent years become an increasing threat, particularly to vulnerable populations.

Mapping out high-risk areas and groups

Cartagena’s local plan is based on a prior analysis of the municipality regarding which areas are particularly exposed to heat, as well as which population groups are at higher risk.

These population groups include:

• Elderly residents and young children, particularly those under three years old or with intellectual disabilities
• People with health complications
• Isolated people
• Disabled people
• Homeless people
• Pregnant women
• Women with caregiving responsibilities
• Outdoor workers
• And other people who have a reduced capacity to adapt to extreme heat

Practical safety recommendations for daily life

Some of the heat protection recommendations outlined by the campaign include: staying  hydrated, avoiding sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day, seeking out cool or air-conditioned spaces, following the advice of  health authorities, and paying special attention to  the elderly  or those living alone. The ultimate goal is to provide the public with clear, useful, and easily applicable information for daily life during periods of high temperatures, which will be communicated via infographics and short explanatory videos.

Europe’s unprecedented ‘heat dome’

This initiative comes as Europe swelters under an unprecedented and historic summer heatwave that has shattered meteorological records across the continent. Temperatures in regions like southwestern France and Spain have soared past 44°C, and major urban centres are experiencing dangerous “tropical nights” where temperatures fail to drop low enough for buildings to cool down, worsening heat stress for vulnerable residents and neighbours. In the midst of this issue, local frameworks like Cartagena’s HEATSAFE campaign are becoming essential to mitigate the life-threatening impacts of this changing climate crisis.

In mid-July, the Juan Martínez Juliá Leisure and Emerging Arts Centre in San Pedro del Pinatar hosted a large gathering for the exchange of the official Panini brand 2026 World Cup collectible stickers, organised by Carrasco Fantasy in collaboration with the Youth Department of the City Council. During the event, hundreds of people from various towns in the Region of Murcia participated in a day dedicated to collection, camaraderie, and a shared passion for the sport of football.

A day of community and trading among fans of ‘o jogo bonito’

Children, teenagers, and adults all participated in the sticker collection day. In addition to trading stickers and completing their albums, attendees also enjoyed a PS5 gaming area and an atmosphere of community, capping off a day of leisure activities designed for all ages and centred around the love of the beautiful game.

The enduring magic of the World Cup album

This year’s edition of the Panini sticker album included more than 950 collectible stickers, sold in boxes and sleeves and often traded afterwards by football fans. World Cup after World Cup, this hobby continues to generate immense enthusiasm, and this initiative in San Pedro del Pinatar, once again, highlighted the appeal of these kinds of activities as a family leisure option and as a space to encourage youth participation and foster relationships among football fans from across the Region of Murcia.

Bringing generations together through sport, community, and collectibles

Ultimately, the successful gathering proves that the simple joy of collecting transcends generations, uniting the local community in a truly unique way. As albums are filled, new friendships are forged, and the 2026 World Cup finally draws to a close, events like these highlight how San Pedro del Pinatar continues to champion vibrant, family-friendly spaces that bring people together over a shared, lifelong passion.