Nearly three decades have passed since CDR Cultural Grío, a rural development centre affiliated with COCEDER, opened the Río Grío Youth Centre with a clear vision: to offer children and young people a safe place to heal, learn, and grow.  

Opened in 1997, this centre has become a restorative space rooted in community, where children and young people can build new opportunities for their future. The centre works with children and adolescents aged 6 to 21, many of whom come from family situations marked by violence, neglect, or substance abuse. It also hosts unaccompanied migrant minors and children with special educational or developmental needs. 

In 2025, the Río Grío Youth Centre was selected as a best practice in the intervention category at the 32nd Annual Congress of the Spanish Association of Social Services Directors and Managers, dedicated this year to “The Right to Social Services for Children and Adolescents.” This latest recognition reaffirms that the original vision is still very much alive in the small village of Codos, where the centre is located. 

“The project has had a transformative impact on both the children's lives and their community. The results show significant improvements in behaviour, emotional health, school performance and community participation, consolidating the project as a good practice in child protection, as recognised by the Spanish Association of Social Services Directors and Managers.” Yolanda Martinela, main responsible for the initiative.  

The Río Grío Youth Centre employs a methodology grounded in contact with nature, active participation, and personalised emotional support. Each child’s journey starts with an individualised intervention plan created from day one and periodically reviewed with the educational team, school staff, healthcare professionals, and social services.  

Personalised programmes take a comprehensive socio-educational approach, focusing on personal and social skills, emotional development, community engagement, healthy habits, education, and employability. Daily life in the centre is structured and predictable, providing a stable and nurturing environment.  

As the Río Grío Youth Centre is based in Codos, a village of just 217 residents in the province of Zaragoza, the rural setting provides a unique educational environment. This location removes children from harmful contexts, offers a safe space, and allows them to become active members of the local community. In fact, the involvement and support of the village act as a powerful social and educational reinforcement, fostering security and a sense of community. 

So far, 205 minors have taken part in the programme, with 78% of them achieving successful social integration through family reunification, employment, continued studies, or full emancipation. Many former residents remain connected to the centre, which shows the lasting emotional and educational impact of the project. 

The Río Grío Youth Centre shows how person-centred, high-quality support for young people can be articulated in rural settings. By combining education, care, and community, this centre helps children and young people to gain autonomy and reintegrate into society.