The Council of Tenerifethrough the area of Social Action, Citizen Participation and Diversity, has awarded the NGO Sonrisas del Suroeste 130,448 euros of subsidies destined to reinforce the associative fabric of the Island. Thanks to this aid, the non-profit organization will be able to defray the expenses derived from its work in social and community care.
The third vice president and councilor for Social Action of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Marián Franquet, and the CEO of Citizen Participation and Diversity, Nauzet Gugliotta, visited the NGO’s facilities in Santa María del Mar on Thursday, accompanied by the president and founder of the entity, Nelson Concepción Izquierdo. During their visit, they were able to see the work that the volunteers carry out thanks to the help they receive from both public institutions and private companies and other collaborators.
Marián Franquet highlighted the importance of these grants delivered by the Island Corporation that help people with the greatest needs. “We have to recognize the work of these types of organizations, which, above all, after the pandemic, have had to make an even greater effort to serve families with fewer resources,” he explained.
“Thanks to their effort and dedication, there are many families who have had the necessary resources to continue their lives with dignity, so we can only give them our support and thank them for the work they have done,” he said.
Likewise, the island councilor wanted to remember that, with the crisis generated by the pandemic, the profile of users who are served by NGOs has changed. “People in a situation of chronic vulnerability are joined by workers who have lost their jobs and even people who, even with a job, do not have the necessary resources to have a decent life and depend on the help of NGOs Franquet pointed out.
Sonrisas del Suroeste is a non-profit entity that since 2014 has been helping the residents of this area of the capital of Tenerife with the delivery of basic food, hygiene products, clothing, furniture and toys. Currently, the organization serves about 450 families, about twice as many as before the pandemic.
