Yesterday, Plaza del Cristo hosted the La Laguna Volunteer Fair, a meeting that has filled the venue set up in Plaza del Cristo with 70 entities and federations of associations that, on behalf of the more than 160 of a social nature present in the municipality , have shown that “the commitment of the citizens of La Laguna has been reinforced after the worst moments of the pandemic, with more than 15,000 people involved, altruistically and voluntarily, to improve the lives of their neighbors and surroundings”. This was highlighted by the Councilor for Social Welfare and Quality of Life, Rubens Ascanio, a municipal area that has organized a fifth edition focused on generating work spaces and collaboration between associations and that has contributed to making important public work visible through information stands and training and leisure activities for all families and ages.
The mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, opened the fair, accompanied by Ascanio; the Island Councilor for Citizen Participation and Diversity of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Nauzet Gugliotta; the general director of Social Rights of the Government of the Canary Islands, Javier Bermúdez, and a representative of the Municipal Corporation.
The fifth edition of the fair transcends the municipal sphere and brings together entities with a presence throughout the island and that work in different fields, such as social care, disability, youth, the elderly, diversity, the environment or animal welfare. In addition, it has the institutional support of the Cabildo de Tenerife, the University of La Laguna (ULL) and the Government of the Canary Islands, which have set up stands from their respective bodies that promote volunteering, such as Tenerife Isla Solidaria, the General Foundation of the ULL and the Canarian Office of Information and Advice for Volunteers.
La Laguna has highlighted information posts from the Children, Families, Seniors and Drug Addiction units, in addition to the Council for the Elderly and the Orange Point, a space with all the support resources, guides and interpreters so that people with disabilities attending the meeting can enjoy the activities in equal conditions.
The fully accessible fair has included talks, master classes and exhibitions, musical performances, theatre, vernacular sports and games for all ages.
In this edition, the fairgrounds in the Plaza del Cristo were filled with the participation of a notable representation of the Laguna associative reality, which exceeds 600 entities by incorporating those of a neighborhood, cultural or sports nature. The La Laguna Solidaria network and entities such as the Red Cross, Cáritas Diocesana, Aldeas Infantiles, Pequeno Valiente, AECC, Amate, ONCE, Asocide, Fasican, Funcasor, Los Sabandeños Foundation, the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country, KAUA Association, the Canary Institute of Social Animation (ICAS), Lagunarte Theaterscopy, New Future, Solidarity of Heart. In addition to Hermanas Hospitalarias Acamán, Down Tenerife, Casa Manolo Torras, Atelsam, Sonsoles Soriano Foundation, ATEM, Afiten, AFATE, Tenerife Diabetes Association, APADI, ASTER, Parkinson Tenerife, Apanate, Apedeca, Asinladi, ATOC, Aspercan, ABIA, SOS Felina , Apremate, Patitas por Canarias, Sano y Salvo, Fundación Óliver Mayor, Sonrisas Canarias, Tenerife por la Bici. Y de Caminar Intersex, Transboys, Los Menceyes Federation, FAV Aguere, Mercedes Machado, Invisibles, Play Learn, Canary Garrote Federation, El Buen Samaritano, Aguere Sports Association, Corazón y Vida, Nahia, Aguere 70 Scouts, Wararni Scouts, Creative Association Canaria, and Civil Protection of La Laguna.