UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY AT MATADERO MADRID
Reduced mobility
Target Audience: Children and families
Date
Venue
Price
Free access
Category
Format
Institution
Once again, the Regional Government of Madrid is celebrating Universal Children’s Day, an annual event held since 2007 to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
This event aims to promote knowledge and awareness of children’s and adolescents’ rights, while highlighting the importance of ensuring their well-being and holistic development across society.
Activity Programme
REDUCED VISIBILITY FOOTBALL
Organiser: Club Deportivo Peñagrande. Play Area
’CEMUREPORTEROS’ RADIO WORKSHOP
Organiser: Ciudad Escuela Muchachos (CEMU)
Lead: Conchi Martínez Calderón (Head of Participation)
Time: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
A live radio broadcast hosted by CEMU students, featuring interviews with authorities, participating organisations, and attendees.
THE GREAT RIGHTS CHALLENGE / DANCING OUR RIGHTS
Organiser: Yehudi Menuhin Foundation
Lead: Jesús Lerín
Notes: Through play, movement, and creativity, participants will explore core values such as family, community, freedom, and equality from an artistic and collective perspective.
- Workshop 1: THE GREAT RIGHTS CHALLENGE
- Workshop 2: DANCING OUR RIGHTS
LEARNING ABOUT ROMANI HISTORY AND CULTURE THROUGH PLAY
Organiser: Fundación Secretariado Gitano
Lead: Rocío García García
Time: 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Ages: 10 to 16
A series of games and challenges designed to introduce Romani culture to young audiences.
THE TREE OF RIGHTS
Organiser: Fundación Secretariado Gitano de Villaverde
Contact: imasi.fsgvillaverde@gitanos.org
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Ages: All ages
A participatory activity for children and families to explore children’s rights in a visual and creative way. Following a short introduction to various rights, each participant represents the right that matters most to them through a drawing, word, or phrase, adding it to a collective tree mural. The activity concludes with a shared reflection on the importance of respecting and safeguarding children’s rights, fostering values of equality, participation, empathy, and community life.
SOCIO-EDUCATIONAL PROJECT: I BECCHI
Organiser: Federación de Plataformas Sociales Pinardi
Leads: Sara Arjona and Sonia Benito
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: 6 to 17
A creative, hands-on craft workshop where participants design and craft their own custom masks and eye masks. Using cardstock, EVA foam, and decorative materials, children develop their imagination, fine motor skills, and artistic expression. At the end of the session, masks are fitted so participants can take their creations home.
PHOTO KEYCHAINS
Organiser: Asociación Centro Trama
Leads: Javier Martínez Castillo and Nuria Manzano
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: 6 to 17
Children create a custom drawing or photo to insert into a handcrafted keychain made by themselves.
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Organiser: Fundación Sanders
Lead: Pablo Fernández Martín
Time: 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Ages: 7 to 16
Robotic coding, art programming with robots, and making music with fruit using code.
PHOTO CALL WORKSHOP (WITH INSTANT THERMAL PRINTER)
Organiser: Asociación El Fanal
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Ages: 2 to 18
Notes: Every participant receives a souvenir printout to take home, which they can mount and decorate on cardstock using markers.
FLYING HIGHER: STORIES WRITTEN BY CHILDREN AND TEENS IN FOSTER CARE
Organiser: Acrescere
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Award Ceremony at 1:30 pm on the Main Stage.
Ages: 7 to 17
Volando más alto (Flying Higher) is a short story anthology created through a contest for children and teenagers living in foster care homes, selecting up to 6 winning entries. Awards are presented on Universal Children's Day. Alongside the award ceremony, selected stories will be read aloud, and some of the young authors will present their work.
YOUR RIGHTS GO WITH YOU! ROLL THE DICE, MAKE YOUR BADGE, TAKE IT HOME
Organiser: Fundación Diagrama Intervención Psicosocial
Time: 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Ages: 6 to 12 & 13 to 17 (Activities and explanations of children’s rights are adapted per age group).
A fun and interactive game introducing children's rights through chance and creative play. After rolling a die to pick a specific right, participants design a template that is transformed into a custom badge—encouraging awareness, reflection, and engagement in an age-appropriate format.
THE FOREST OF AFFECTION
Organiser: Fide(m) Asociación para la Atención Multidisciplinar de la Familia
Time: 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Ages: 6 to 18
An inclusive, participatory activity designed to gather the opinions, concerns, interests, and messages of children and adolescents. Participants express what they enjoy, worry about, or wish to tell adults, adding their contribution to a collective forest mural. This activity promotes active listening, highlights diverse perspectives, and encourages reflection on children's rights, needs, and well-being.
FACE PAINTING
Organiser: Fundación Amigó
Lead: Nani Ventura Pizarro
Time: 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Ages: 2 to 16
PLAYING FOR OUR RIGHTS
Organiser: Fundación Educación y Desarrollo
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: 4 to 12
Notes: Clapping games, group games, and paper crafts for kids.
THE GREAT SCOUT CHAIN OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
Organiser: Scouts de Madrid - Movimiento Scout Católico (MSC)
Time: 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Ages: 4 to 17
An interactive activity led by Scouts de Madrid where children create paper links representing different rights. All links are joined together to form a grand collective chain alongside an audiovisual presentation, symbolising a shared commitment to advocating for children's rights.
- ACTIVITY 1: BADGE WORKSHOP: OUR RIGHTS
ACTIVITY 2: COLLABORATIVE MURAL: OUR VOICES MATTER
Organiser: YMCA
Time: 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Ages: 6 to 18
Activity 1: Badge Workshop: "I Stand Up for My Rights"
A creative workshop where children design and craft custom badges inspired by Children's and Adolescents' Rights (such as education, participation, equality, play, protection, health, and identity). Participants color, cut, and press their design into a badge to keep. Larger versions of the designs will be displayed to encourage light discussion on each topic.
Activity 2: Collaborative Mural: "Our Voices Matter"
Creation of a large collective mural where young participants share their views and ideas to improve their community.
Prompt: "What do children and teenagers need to be happy, feel safe, and participate in our community?"
Participants can write or draw:
- Something they like about their community.
- Something they would like to change.
An idea to improve life for young people.
Contributions will form an "idea tree" or collective mural around the main theme.
MISSION: SAFE DIGITAL HOME (ESCAPE ROOM FOR RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY USE)
Organiser: Instituto de Bienestar Psicológico y Social / SAAT (Specialised Psychopedagogical Intervention Service for New Technology Addictions)
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: 8 to 17
An educational escape room where young people complete challenges related to safe technology habits across different rooms of a simulated house. Topics include privacy, digital rest, family communication, time management, and internet safety, with the goal of turning the house into a "safe digital home." Adapted to various age levels with visual supports and inclusive dynamics.
FACE PAINTING WORKSHOP
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: 3 to 12
Children can choose a design and have their faces painted with animal, character, or fantasy themes.
GIANT WOODEN GAMES AREA
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: All ages
A selection of wooden games and skill challenges designed to test fine motor skills and dexterity.
BALLOON TWISTING WORKSHOP
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: 5 to 16
Children learn how to transform balloons into animals, flowers, and shapes using simple twisting techniques.
ACROSPORT / KIDS’ YOGA & JUGGLING
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: All ages
Divided into specific age-appropriate zones: simple partner or group acrobatics, a playful yoga session for younger children, and ball juggling workshops guided by specialized instructors.
TRADITIONAL GAMES
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: All ages
Classic outdoor games including sack races, egg-and-spoon races, stilts, and hopscotch.
BRACELET MAKING WORKSHOP
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ages: 5 to 16
Children can craft their own custom bracelets using colorful beads and threads.
Main Stage Schedule
- 11:30 am: ZUMBA KIDS
- 12:30 pm: PERCUSSION MUSIC SHOW
- 1:30 pm: ACRESCERE AWARDS CEREMONY
- 3:30 pm: MAGIC SHOW
- 4:30 pm: ZUMBA KIDS
Stage Performances
ZUMBA KIDS
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Duration & Schedule: 1 hour per session (at 11:30 am and 4:30 pm)
Ages: 5 and up
Energetic dance routines led by an instructor on the main stage.
MAGIC SHOW
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Duration & Schedule: 1 hour (at 3:30 pm)
Ages: All ages
An interactive magic performance featuring audience participation.
PERCUSSION MUSIC SHOW
Organiser: DGIFFN, Regional Government of Madrid
Duration & Schedule: 1 hour (at 12:30 pm)
Ages: All ages
A lively percussion performance with active audience participation.