The Social Welfare and Quality of Life Department of the La Laguna City Council has curated a diverse and rich schedule of events to honour International Women’s Day, themed ‘Visible and United for the Same Cause’. The city’s programming will extend until April, featuring cultural, social, musical, sports, and predominantly, awareness-building initiatives.
The Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, emphasized that these activities aim to cover various areas “where we can promote visibility, idea-sharing, and education on gender equality.” “In this battle, we must unite forces, always in collaboration with the social groups that do commendable work each year to achieve significant milestones in this area,” added the Mayor.
María Cruz, the Councillor for the Area in La Laguna, announced that “this Friday will mark the highlight of our agenda, with the institutional event taking place in the Consistory’s Plenary Hall.” This event will feature readings of institutional manifestos and those of the Municipal Women’s Council of La Laguna, which is currently composed of various entities.
“Our message for the 8th of March will be disseminated through diverse activities in 2024, thanks to the numerous initiatives we have promoted in conjunction with other areas of the City Council such as Sports, Heritage, and Education,” emphasized the Councillor for Social Welfare and Quality of Life in La Laguna.
On the same Friday, March 8, alongside the institutional event in the Plenary Hall, the exhibition honouring Clemencia Hardisson, titled ‘Embracing the Gaze’, will be inaugurated. This serves as a tribute to this remarkable female figure from Tenerife, known for her active and supportive work with the people who suffered under Franco’s regime. The exhibition will run until March 17 at the Las Mantecas Technology and Science Park.
On March 10, the ‘VI International Women and Indigenous Sports Day’ will be celebrated at the Casa del Ganadero, in collaboration with the Canarian Drag Federation and the Lagunero Autonomous Sports Organization. On the 12th of the same month, at 7:00 p.m., the La Laguna Women’s Awards ceremony will take place at the Leal Theatre, followed by the musical performance of the Blanco y Negro In Piano Concert.
On March 13, at 4:30 p.m., several discussions will be held between Las Mantecas Park and the Finca España Citizen Center on feminism and prominent women in Tenerife’s history. On the 18th, at 5:30 p.m., a workshop titled ‘Creating a Family Book’ will take place at the Municipal Library, and on the 21st, starting at 10:00 a.m., the talk ‘Is Pay Inequality Truly a Myth?’ will be held at the El Tranvía Citizen Center. Another significant event will be the exhibition by Margarita Salas ‘Science with a Woman’s Name’ from March 14 to 27, also displayed at the Municipal Library.
The programme concludes with the ‘Ice Communities’ workshop on March 21 and 22 at 5:30 p.m., and the 9th edition of ‘The Voice of Women’ on March 26 and 27, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., both events at the Municipal Library; the concert honouring women by the instrumental quintet Aborá Femme on April 1, at 7:00 p.m., at the old convent of Santo Domingo; and the film exhibition ‘No Label’ on equality and diversity on April 11, at 7:00 p.m., at the El Tranvía Citizen Center.
Bridging the Gender Gap in Schools
Educating and raising awareness among school children on gender-related issues will be pivotal in this agenda. Throughout March and April, talks and activities will focus on making students aware of the lyrics of the songs they listen to and evaluating their alignment with equality standards. Information capsules featuring local influential women will also be promoted to educational institutions, with the aim of incorporating them into the curriculum.
