Tenerife Initiative Brings Hope to 6,000 Children Facing Extreme Poverty

The visionary behind this initiative, the director of Mírame TV, Manuel Artiles, predicted its success, and he was right. Once again, as it has happened multiple times before, the community of the Island showcased their compassion by filling Mercatenerife with donations of food, toys, clothing, and pet supplies during the Solidarity Telemarathon—now a cherished tradition in the lead-up to Christmas. This overwhelming generosity resulted in thousands of contributions, as highlighted by Artiles himself and the president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, in a moment of shared joy at a mission accomplished. The goal of assisting 40,000 Canarians—among them 6,000 children who subsist on merely 500 euros a month—was realised thanks to the support of companies, organisations, and individuals who all played their part in this noble cause. It was a perfect score in the 12th edition. The alignment of the numbers confirmed its success.

Logistics is crucial in a central food hub like Mercatenerife. This is always the case, but especially so on the occasion of the Telemarathon. Yesterday, the buzz and energy did not commence at dawn; rather, they began when the normal daily operations had concluded. Just before eleven in the morning, the sounds of excitement could be heard emanating from the warehouses, and in the distance, many children disembarked from buses that had brought them from every corner of the Island. In total, 700 pupils from 16 schools came to present their donations at the main stage—a new initiative that proved successful and holds promise for the future.

Isaac González, Education Coordinator for Santa Cruz Local Police, is diligently working, alongside teachers and fellow volunteers, to manage the children in an orderly manner, away from the harsh sun outside. This unexpected coolness in what has finally become pleasant weather was appreciated, along with the absence of rain for the day.

Among the visitors at the central market for this special day were 47 students from the Javier Zafra Moreno school in Chacona (Güímar), led by their director, Jesús Montañez. Together with her, Jesica Rodríguez Dorta from CEIP Alfonso accompanied Richard, 12, and Asier, 11, two of the six students from Aula en Clave who joined her. They described their experience as “absolutely wonderful.” Laura Escabias from the Javier Zafra AMPA echoed this sentiment, calling it “fantastic,” while Alexandra García, a teacher at Alfonso, agreed.

The 40 children aged 6 and 7 from CEIP Villa de Arico proudly waved their local flag. One of their educators, José Manuel Maldonado, expressed, “Everyone arrives with their own bag, and it is crucial they understand the importance of helping others.”

The youngsters led the way towards a stage adorned with letters spelling out “Social Action,” while the crowd sang along to Con mi burrito sabanero, heading to Belén. Approximately one hundred children arrived from Los Realejos, specifically from La Montañeta and Agustín Espinosa schools, and were joined by participants from the Child-Friendly City Council, who engaged in a unique municipal assembly. The town’s mayor, Adolfo González, proudly led the northern delegation and shared his excitement for the event. He emphasized, “Child welfare policies must be ongoing,” adding, “We need to remember throughout the year that many families face difficulties.”

For an hour, children made their way through a festive atmosphere filled with musical performances, animated characters, and the dedicated efforts of volunteers who collected food, toys, or letters for the Three Wise Men. The buses then began to arrive as the final child boarded to head back home—a necessary precaution for ensuring safety, as underscored by Lidia Arias, the adept logistics coordinator. Alongside her, Cándida Carballo focused on communications while Ardiel Rodríguez took on the presenting duties, each of them exceeding expectations in their roles. A dedicated team led by Manuel Artiles, known as Manolo.

Parade

The parade was kicked off by the Forest Brigades (Brifor) and Tenerife Fire Brigades, showcasing their vehicles amid the wailing of sirens. Following them were cars and trucks representing the Army, National Police, Civil Guard, and Santa Cruz Local Police. Ultimately, a multitude of vehicles carrying contributions from businesses flowed like a long serpent. Leading the charge was the representative of the Three Wise Men, assuring all that “Their Majesties will, as always, visit every household in the Canary Islands on January 5,” but noting, “the priority at present is to assist those in need. Thank you all for your kindness; we had high hopes for this community.” This was enough to motivate officials such as Santa Cruz’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, and the Ecological Transition councillor, Mariano Zapata, to contribute their donations. In the case of the latter, toys were included.

The Break

As mid-morning approached, everyone began searching for breakfast. The volunteer team, headed by Miguel Ángel Sirera alongside his wife, Sara Lorenzo, manned the bar, charmingly named La Pausita, an oasis amid industrial surroundings. He celebrated ten years operating there and jubilantly announced his renewal for another decade. “Our usual hours are from three-thirty in the morning to two in the afternoon, but today (yesterday) is unique, and we’ll be here for as long as we can manage,” he stated with pride about his connection to the establishment, pointing out the newly refurbished facilities.

Volunteers

Pilar Cáceres co-manages the capital-based NGO Sonrisas de Suroeste. She works the morning shift while her husband, Nelson Concepción, oversees the afternoon. They lead a team of 15 volunteers, although all present are contributing individually to assist during the Telemarathon, among a total of 150 mobilised throughout the day. He elaborated, “We operate as a dual chain—one for children and another for adults—sorting the items into categories such as toys, toiletries, clothing, and food. Subsequently, the Food Bank collects these items for distribution to those in need via 228 NGOs.”

He mentioned this just as carts overflowing with fresh produce, particularly fruits and vegetables, rolled by. Miriam Cañada, a staff member at the Tenerife Food Bank (Bancoteide), who has participated in several solidarity telethons, expressed her approval of the proceedings. She remarked, “We are striving to close the gap of 1.5 million kilos of food that no longer arrives from Europe. We achieve this with both public and private support, but importantly, through generous donations.”

Seniors

The adult counterpart was exemplified by the 120 members from the Vega de San Mateo club who journeyed from Gran Canaria, assisted by the council led by first deputy mayor and communicator, José Déniz. Manuel Miranda, president of the group, shared that this year they celebrated the Mayor’s Festival with this outing to Tenerife. He stated they had a “fantastic” time visiting the nativity scenes in Candelaria and La Laguna, sharing lunch in La Esperanza (El Rosario), and showcasing their generosity at Mercatenerife, arriving with 200 new toys for the children.

The mission was accomplished. For over three months, 200 organisations from across the islands will directly support 40,000 Canarians, which includes 6,000 children. The magic of Christmas, crafted by Manolo Artiles and, once again, the Mírame TV Solidarity Telemarathon.

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