council Y Unicef meet in Tenerife at twelve child-friendly Canary cities. In the sessions, which will last three days, about 50 boys and girls between 10 and 17 years old will participate, as well as technical personnel. The island councilor for Social Action, Marián Franquet, explains that “this initiative is a way of building the Canary Islands of the future together with young people to meet their demands
The Institute of Social and Socio-Sanitary Care (IASS) is meeting this week in the southern municipality of Candelaria with the Councils for Children and Adolescents of the Canary Islands, the main bodies for child and youth participation, to promote the meeting between girls and boys, but, fundamentally, actively listening to their proposals, opinions and suggestions. The event, the fifth of its kind to be held, will last three days and a total of 77 people will participate, including adults who come from the 12 municipalities of the Archipelago recognized by Unicef as a Child Friendly City.
Listen to the youth
Franquet highlights the opportunity offered by this meeting to “listen, once again, to children and young people, to understand their concerns and get to know them, because it is the best way to bring our management closer to them”.
In addition, the counselor emphasizes the possibilities that this forum opens up to strengthen dialogue and promote collaborative work between the Cabildo and other local governments in favor of child welfare and protection.
«We have in front of us the best way to create, together, the Canary Islands of the futurethe one in which these young people will be protagonists and that must meet their expectations and demands,» adds Franquet.
During the three days that the meeting lasts, the participants will be able to enjoy recreational activities combined with hours of joint work that will deal with different themes previously chosen. As a result of this dialogue, a session will be held in which the results obtained in the different dynamics will be presented and reflection will be invited on the matter. Parallel to the programming, the technicians will also meet to share experiences and methodologies on the work at the head of these spaces.
Until today they will address issues such as gender violence, war conflicts in the world, climate change, the vulnerability of children and adolescents, as well as social networks.
Of the twelve Child Friendly Cities, half are in Tenerife. There are five municipalities, plus the Cabildo: Santa Cruz, La Laguna. Tegueste, La Orotava and Los Realejos. They must be joined by two in Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Lucía de Tirajana; one in La Palma, Breña Baja, and three in Fuerteventura, the Cabildo Majorero, in addition to the capital, Puerto del Rosario, and La Oliva.
