Lugo turned out in force to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the declaration of the Wall as a World Heritage Site with a drawing competition aimed at the youngest children, an initiative with which the Xunta de Galicia brought the historical heritage closer to the students of the city in a creative and participatory way.
In this context, a group of girls and boys from the fourth year of Early Childhood Education at the CPR Divina Pastora – Salesianos de Lugo He became the star when he won the competition and saw his work transformed into the main image of the Territorial Delegation's Christmas card.
A school competition to celebrate the Wall as a World Heritage Site
The drawing competition was part of the special activities programmed by the Xunta To mark the 25th anniversary of the declaration of the Lugo Wall as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, an event that has strengthened the bond between the citizens and this emblematic monument.
under the motto "The Walls of Lugo: a wish, a memory, a congratulation"The call invited students from the city's educational centers to to put their emotional connection to the Wall on paperwhether through memories, messages of good wishes, or everyday scenes around the walled enclosure.
The proposal was met with considerable interest from the educational community and, according to data provided by the organization, Around 400 drawings were received from schoolchildren in LugoThe projects were presented both individually and in groups, which allowed the centers to adapt the activity to different classroom dynamics.
Throughout the month of December, The participating works remained on display at the headquarters of the Territorial Delegation of the Xunta in Lugo, turning the institutional building into a small gallery open to families and the public, where the different children's perspectives on the Wall could be seen.
The CPR Divina Pastora – Salesianos, winner of the competition
The work carried out by the fourth year students of Early Childhood Education at CPR Divina Pastora – Salesianos It was selected as the winner of the competition, standing out from the wide range of proposals submitted for its originality and its way of interpreting the contest's motto.
The award was not just a symbolic recognition: the Territorial Delegation chose This drawing is the main motif of their official Christmas card., a piece that was distributed institutionally during these dates, giving the young artists special visibility within the celebration.
In addition, the winning group received an educational game to share in the classroom, a gift designed to promote cooperative work and reinforce the collective nature of the project with which they participated in the drawing competition.
This type of recognition, beyond the award itself, contributes to to strengthen students' self-esteem and their involvement in cultural activitiesgenerating a positive memory linked both to the school and to the heritage of their city.
Institutional visit and recognition of the teaching staff
The award ceremony took place at the school itself. The territorial delegate of the Xunta in Lugo, Javier Arias, traveled to the CPR Divina Pastora – Salesianos to personally congratulate the fourth grade kindergarten group and deliver the gift planned for the classroom.
During his visit, the regional representative He explained to the students that their drawing had been chosen as the main image for the Christmas card. from the Territorial Delegation, a detail that allowed the youngest children to become aware of the scope of their work in a simple and approachable way.
Arias also had words of appreciation for the teaching team involved in the activity, emphasizing that The work of teachers is key to "sowing" knowledge and respect for historical and cultural heritage among children. from very early ages.
The participation of the centers was not limited to sending drawings: Many classrooms had previously worked on content related to the Walls of Lugo, its history and its value as a World Heritage Site, integrating the competition into broader educational projects related to the city and its surroundings.
Heritage, education and creativity hand in hand
The drawing competition promoted by the Xunta in Lugo highlights how Cultural activities can become effective educational toolsespecially when they are approached through play, illustration, and group work.
By inviting schoolchildren to perform their wishes, memories and congratulations regarding the WallIt fosters not only creativity, but also reflection on the place this monument occupies in the daily life of the city and in the collective memory.
For many families, the exhibition of the works at the Territorial Delegation meant an opportunity to get closer to the institutions and at the same time rediscover the Wallthrough the eyes of girls and boys who interpret it with colors, shapes and spontaneous messages.
Initiatives of this kind fit into the increasingly widespread trend in Europe of Linking heritage education with creative school projects, reinforcing the sense of belonging and shared responsibility in the conservation of cultural assets.
The experience of the drawing competition for the 25th anniversary of the Walls of Lugo leaves a picture in which administration, educational centers and families collaborate around a common goal: that new generations grow up knowing, valuing and respecting one of the most representative symbols of the city, while developing their artistic sensitivity and their involvement with the heritage that surrounds them.