Where do you hang out after school? Do you go to the mall? A friend's house? A basketball court? Communities must build safe and accessible spaces for young people to gather and socialize. This week, we're exploring how my community of Vilagarcía de Arousa does just that.
I learned about the lack of dedicated social spaces for youth in Vilagarcía de Arousa. While our town has many cafés, they cater to older patrons, and the local playgrounds are usually taken over by little kids and their families. The library stays open late, but its strict no-talking rule doesn't make it an ideal hangout spot. What's a Spanish teenager to do?
In the larger cities surrounding my town, there are plenty of places for young adults to gather and have fun. Santiago de Compostela, for example, has an arcade, a bowling alley, a karaoke bar, and even an escape room! However, Vilagarcía de Arousa is a smaller town with a lot less youth, so it does not appeal as much to such entertainment companies.
