“It has been 10 years of great perseverance, of great commitment, of many hours of dedication, of volunteering by all and all those who have passed through the association and have dedicated even a minute to work for others and for the neighborhood.” This is pointed out by José Arnaldo Flores, president of the prosocial association Mi Barrio El Carmen Se Mueve, in the municipality of Arafo, on the tenth anniversary of one of the most active neighborhood groups in all of Tenerife.
Flores says that “this association was born because in the El Carmen neighborhood there was a lack of this type of group, which went beyond the organization of parties.” “We understood that the celebrations are important, but that during the year it was necessary to maintain an agenda of actions and activities to promote and project an image of the neighborhood of work, of commitment, of dedication to our neighbors. During these years we have maintained four or five actions, including the recovery of traditions such as the fritanga, to keep the image of the neighborhood alive and end the stigma that all neighborhoods with social problems have, such as ours. “
Mi Barrio El Carmen Se Mueve was officially established as a prosocial association in 2015, but four years before it began to organize itself as such. It has been throughout these ten years the critical voice of the local government, although also a collaborator. “Many do not understand that we criticize municipal management and at the same time collaborate with the City Council. I believe that both things must be compatible, as long as it is done in good faith, without political colors, which is not our objective. People need a pat on the back from time to time, and that is why we continue to demand the City Council for the place next door and to allow us a roof for the patio, for which we already have a budget, in order to grow more ”.
The association’s involvement in the Citizen Participation regulations has been constant. “We are involved in all the processes to which we are invited. We have brought here the school of citizen participation, All in the same direction. I never tire of repeating that participating is not attending, but knowing the whole process, claiming the figure of volunteering, which is cared for and protected more by public and private administrations ”.
Arnaldo Flores explains the association’s prosocial surname: “We chose it to open the range, not to focus only on one theme. Here we distribute boxes of vegetables every 15 days thanks to the La Caixa Foundation and Tenerife Solidario, two entities that have been important in our journey from the beginning, especially La Caixa, which has provided us with a computer, internet and others, as well as the support of Social Action and Citizen Participation of the Cabildo. There is a fabric that has accompanied us these 10 years and it has been essential, because companies and individuals have joined that have allowed us to make others happy ”.
One of the great demands of the neighborhood community of El Carmen, the most populated neighborhood in Arafo, is the remodeling of its square. “We have been eight years,” says Flores, “since we presented the letter to the City Council. What does the remodel mean? Cover some services. The square does not have tents, it does not have places to store furniture. Every time something is done in it we have to block the streets to load and unload, there is no space for a motor … That is why we asked in that project for some basements so as not to be loading chairs, boards, donkeys and tables every time one was made. party or any act. A brutality of effort that never appears in the photo. The mayor promised a few days ago to find the formula to remodel it, just as we asked him for a citizen center, although we are aware that the City Council does not have money for large works, but if there is political will it can be financed through the Cabildo or the Government. I believe that the neighborhood of El Carmen deserves it and we have to stand up for it, that the people of the neighborhood regain their dignity, “he says.
