The gala for the 25th anniversary of the program Tenerife Isla Solidaria, of the Cabildo de Tenerife, welcomed yesterday at the theater of El Sauzal the delivery of the 2022 Solidarity Awards, with which the voluntary work of people and entities from different social spheres has been distinguished. In total, 14 honorable mentions and two second prizes were awarded. The awards recognized the trajectory of the Promemar association, for its projects in defense of the marine environment and underwater cleaning. The Kaua de Taco youth and cultural association was also awarded for its actions to promote culture, healthy lifestyle habits and responsible leisure alternatives among young people. For the work carried out in caring for migrants, the José Luis Montesinos Canary Islands Foundation was distinguished.
The recognized volunteers were Juan Enrique Hernández, for his dedication to training in social skills and employability of people in vulnerable situations, giving workshops in Proyecto Hombre day centers for 15 years; and Dácil Molina, for his voluntary action in Apanate and attention to people with ASD with high support needs. Two women leaders in projects and initiatives of general interest have also received a special mention: Soukeina Ndiaye, a volunteer in the Tindouf and Tenerife refugee camps assisting migrant and refugee women; and Fermina Gutiérrez, head of the association Queremos Movernos de Güímar, for her defense of the rights of people with disabilities. The award-winning companies were Caixabank, for its collaboration with entities in projects and initiatives, and Mercadona, which has collaborated with food distribution entities on the Island.
In the educational field, the work of CEO Betencourt Molina has been distinguished, for his actions in defense of diversity and respect for the LGTBIQ+ collective, as well as the Hispano-Inglés College, for its volunteer actions among students. In the category of public administration, the Military Logistics Support Group No. 81 (AALOG 81) has been recognized, which has been helping entities with the transfers and movements of merchandise for more than a decade. 13,000 people on the island have benefited from their work. The work of the online radio program La Vida es Bella, directed by Anelio Ramón, a person with disabilities who since 2013 has created this space to make disability and Solidarity action. Also to the Digital Newspaper of the University of La Lagunadirected by José Luis Zurita, who writes all his information in inclusive language and reinforces in his content the sense of commitment with the community.
In addition, two second prizes have been awarded, one to Hilda Siverio, for her values of support, commitment and solidarity. Hilda Siverio has created a Facebook page, Get a smile out of cancer, which has helped thousands of people who are in the same situation or in similar life conditions. The other second prize went to CEIP Camino Largo, recently distinguished for developing projects that promote values of solidarity and commitment to the 2030 Agenda, as well as for its awareness-raising actions in the educational community.
The event was attended by the insular councilor for Social Action, Marián Franquet; the CEO of Citizen Participation and Diversity, Nauzet Gugliotta; and the mayor of El Sauzal, Mariano Pérez, among other authorities. Gugliotta stressed that the 14 honorable mentions and 2 second prizes “reflect the different ways of volunteering that surely serve as an example for other people.” Gugliotta praised the work carried out by the members of Tenerife Isla Solidaria “helping entities in their solidarity work and noble causes in society.” «During these 25 years of activity, training has been a basic pillar to train the voluntariness of people and entities, entities have also been provided with equipment and infrastructure, and this coming year of the item planned for the program, 1,332. 400 euros, a total of 620,064 euros are allocated to the digital transformation project of the entities, so that they can continue with their work in the best conditions, “he explained.
For her part, Marián Franquet stressed “the involvement of Tenerife society, which has always shown ample signs of solidarity, especially in difficult and complicated situations such as the one experienced during the pandemic”. He added that with these recognitions the Tenerife Isla Solidaria program “wants to make visible and thank the voluntary collaboration of the different social agents, both public and private, as well as anonymous people, for the benefit of citizens and the community.”
