Benposta (from the Galician words ben and posta, meaning "well set"), known in Spanish as "Ciudad de los Muchachos" (City of Youth), is a communal charitable organization for troubled youth. Benpostas are places for abandoned, marginalized youth around the world. Each Benposta has its own parliament and administrative and political positions like mayor, counselor, etc. History The concept, and first city, of Benposta was founded by Father Jesús Silva in 1956. The first City of Benposta was founded in Seixalbo, outside of Ourense, Galicia, Spain. Benposta was designed as a peaceful and safe home for homeless children, particularly those affected by poverty or violence. Commonly known as "The City of Youth", Benposta cities originally had no adult residents, other than Father Silva. The city was governed and maintained completely by the children. Since its inception, Benposta cities have opened around the world. Some Benposta cities now include adults as residents, many of whom have grown up in Benposta. The adults in Benposta have identical rights to the children, they are not superior, and do not function as guardians. Ideology The aim of Benposta cities is to promote health and development, by respecting and promoting each child's rights. In Benposta cities, all residents are considered equal citizens, and given identical rights. All residents participate in the community - in decision making, organising, and in completing tasks to maintain the community. Benposta is founded on an independent ideology with strong Catholic foundations. While it is commonly known as a charity for street children, the homeless and the underprivileged, its founder, Father Silva, claims his real motivations were to create an educational community where children would be the new citizens of a world based in Christian principles. Benposta's message of peace is a prayer against violence, war, poverty, and injustice. It begins, We are the youth of the earth; we go around the world with our hands united, and ends with the sentence, If all men in the world would pray together before God, the world would be a star of Peace, Justice and Love. Even with an ideology strongly based in Christian Catholic principles, the City of Youth has the only Muslim mosque in Ourense, and states that any religious beliefs must be respected; therefore, Benposta accepts children of every religion. Structure The Benposta cities around the world vary in structure, however the central principles remain the same. Central to all Benposta