Cash for kids: Axarquía village offers payouts to stop rural flight

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Canillas de Aceituno launches new subsidies for students and new parents as the battle against depopulation in inland Malaga intensifies

Eugenio Cabezas

Tuesday, 10 March 2026, 15:15

In a bid to save the village from becoming a "ghost town," Canillas de Aceituno has announced a fresh wave of financial incentives to keep its residents from fleeing to the coast.

The town hall, led by Mayor Vicente Campos, is putting its money where its mouth is by offering cash to students and new parents as part of a fight against rural depopulation.

At a glance: What can you claim in Canillas de Aceituno?

• Student Grant: €400 per year for those studying university or vocational courses outside the village

• Baby Bonus: €750 for every new birth or adoption to cover essential care costs.

• The Deadline: Student applications are open from 4 March to 4 April 2026.

• Eligibility: You must have been a registered resident (empadronado) for at least 6 months for the student grant and 1 year for the baby bonus.

• Academic Rules: Students must pass 80% of units to qualify for the travel cash.

The first of the two calls for applications provides for an annual grant of 400 euros per student to cover part of the travel expenses of students attending university or vocational training outside the village.

The town hall has said that the measure has been in place for some years now as part of municipal policies aimed at supporting families and stabilising the population in rural areas, a growing concern in many inland towns and villages in Malaga province.

Mayor of Canillas de Aceituno, Vicente Campos, said, "This aid is a clear example of our government team's commitment to families, as is the aid for the birth or adoption of children that we offer annually."

Eligibility

To be eligible for the grants, applicants must have been registered as residents of Canillas de Aceituno for at least six months and be enrolled in a public university or higher education programme. University students must also have passed at least 80 per cent of their subjects or credits from the previous academic year.

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