On September 29, 2026, the new stage of Los Cascos Verdes in the Axarquía was presented at a press conference alongside the Regional Government of Andalusia. This environmental education initiative by CIFAL Málaga–UNITAR arrives in the region thanks to the support of Eurofresh and will accompany students from its 31 municipalities throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
Eurofresh promotes Los Cascos Verdes in the Axarquía: a school year to train the guardians of nature
Returning to where it all began
For Eurofresh, the Axarquía is not just another territory. Here lies Finca El Capitán, our first farm, with over four decades of history and now a model of organic agriculture. From those origins, we have grown to become international organic avocado producers, pioneers in introducing this crop to Peru and the Dominican Republic, and applying that same experience to other crops such as mango, ginger, turmeric, or lemon.
The region brings together high mountains, fertile valleys, and the coast within just a few kilometers: from the peaks of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park to the coves of the eastern coastline, passing through olive and almond terraces and subtropical crops favored by a unique microclimate in Europe. Supporting the environmental education of the young people living in this environment is, for us, a way of giving back to the land part of what it has given us.
What is Los Cascos Verdes?
Inspired by the United Nations Peacekeepers (Blue Helmets), Los Cascos Verdes is a project promoted by CIFAL Málaga, a center under the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Its mission is to contribute to the fight against desertification, halt ecosystem degradation, and contribute to climate change mitigation through three lines of work: training, support for micro-projects, and restoration of the natural environment.
The 2026-2027 school year in the Axarquía
The program will be developed in three phases throughout the school year:
- Classroom training. Students between 10 and 18 years old from the region’s educational centers will complete, guided by their teachers, a training itinerary in a virtual classroom focused on the Sustainable Development Goals and, especially, on the “P for Planet.” Those who complete it will receive a certificate from CIFAL Málaga–UNITAR accrediting them as “Green Helmets.”
- Nature-Based Solutions Micro-projects. Trained students will be able to apply for a call for micro-projects. Two initiatives in the region will be funded with 3,000 euros each, dedicated to the conservation or recovery of the environment: reforestation, cleaning of rivers or beaches, protection of biodiversity… Each proposal must involve a partnership with a local NGO.
- Major community volunteering action. The course will culminate with a day open to the entire population, so that the spirit of Los Cascos Verdes extends beyond the classrooms and new communities aware of the value of their environment are born.
Participation in all activities is free of charge.
From the organic fields to the classrooms
Our daily work is based on organic and regenerative agriculture: living soils, respect for biodiversity, and processes that seek a positive environmental impact. Los Cascos Verdes brings that same logic to the educational sphere. When a group of students learns to restore a degraded space or care for a riverbed, they understand that the health of a territory depends on the decisions we make every day. That is the awareness we want to help sow in the Axarquía.
A project with results
The Axarquía is the third stop on a journey that has already left its mark. In its first edition in Andalusia, the project trained nearly 4,000 students, funded 10 micro-projects selected from nearly 50 proposals, and mobilized more than 2,500 volunteers to plant 90,000 seedlings of native species in Sierra Bermeja, following the fire that affected 8,400 hectares. The second stop, in Meco (Community of Madrid), brought together more than 200 students in workshops on the SDGs at the beginning of 2026.
If you are part of an educational center in the region and want to participate, you can register as a Green Helmet on the project website.
