Social entities make Murcia a better place. Behind the NGOs that populate the entire Region are the faces of many professionals who fight every day to improve the lives of those who cross their path. This ‘leitmotif’ is what unites all these entities, which show that, with or without a pandemic, solidarity does not rest. Putting value on its activity and claiming its constant and innovative character were two of the objectives of the meeting of entities selected in the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation’s 2021 Aid Program for Social Initiatives Projects, organized by this entity and LA VERDAD, in the that were present representatives of the 20 elected in the convocation of this year.
The Artillery Barracks was the chosen setting for these NGOs to meet and exchange experiences in an event that was hosted by journalist Lydia Martín and, as sponsor, Rodi Fernández, chef of the Taúlla restaurant and creator of the GastroSOS project, an idea based on the preparation and home delivery of solidarity menus that, in full confinement, managed to raise around 12,000 euros for the Segura Food Bank.
«Fundación ‘la Caixa’ and LA VERDAD maintain a close relationship to value the work that social organizations carry out in our Region. We have the responsibility to generate opportunities for a free and fair society, ”the delegate of the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation in Murcia, Lourdes Toribio, in charge of the opening of the event, stressed yesterday. Toribio highlighted the work of the 20 entities chosen as “fundamental” to contribute to these calls “territorial vision; anticipation in the detection of needs; flexibility for projects to adapt to new social realities and transversality when working with different groups ”.
NACHO GARCÍA / AGM
The selected projects, in which the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation is going to invest 422,710 euros, have the capacity in their territories to promote “change and transformation in search of a more egalitarian society. After more than two decades of joint travel, the program’s motto makes more sense than ever: do it together to make it happen, “said Toribio.
The councilor delegate for the Elderly, Housing and Social Services, Paqui Pérez, showed her “satisfaction” for having entities in Murcia “that make our Region a better world.” In order for them to continue their work, the head of the branch advocated for public-private relations and positively valued the joint work of entities, companies and administrations, which achieve “the perfect synergies to reach all those places where each of us individually We couldn’t do it.
The joint work of the company is one of the aspects that Rodi Fernández also highlighted, who considered it “a pride” to be the godfather of the gala, recalled GastroSOS and thanked all the work of the entities present.
Big ideas
After these presentations, the meeting focused on three regional entities whose projects stand out for their innovation. This exclusive group of initiatives is part of ‘Back home’, a pilot project of the Molina y Comarca Mental Health Association, Afesmo, which is a temporary housing service for people with severe mental disorders who have just come out of an income hospitable. The head of Afemce projects, Abraham Ruiz, valued ‘Back home’ as “inclusive” and adapted to the user profile of the entity “who are at risk of social exclusion and who sometimes have financial difficulties.” In this initiative, the entity also works with families, who are a «fundamental pillar», because «when the person comes from an income and enters home they do not know how to act with them. The objective is to create a step between hospital admission, in which the person is isolated, and their return home, so that it is not so abrupt, “he said.
Another of the ideas that was put in value yesterday was ‘The garden of Prolam’. The project, launched by the Tutelary Association of Persons with Disabilities, Astus, seeks to create an agroecological and peri-urban garden that not only makes it possible to “enjoy nature”, as pointed out by the director of the Prolam-Astus day center, Amparo Sánchez Instead, teach them “job skills that give them a job opportunity, which is what they want in the long run. We are going to give visibility to the capacities they have and which are sometimes unknown due to prejudices, “he concluded.
The last program that was presented was the one developed by Radio ECCA focused on the socio-labor insertion of women victims of gender violence. The initiative, explained by the company’s representative in Murcia, Ana Belén Marco, mixes social care and job training, in areas such as cleaning or social and health care, for the subsequent incorporation of these women into the job market. Along with this more technical part, the initiative also has a very emotional character, through which, as Marco highlighted, “new ties are created, situations of social isolation are broken and the participants help each other.”
Constant commitment
“At CaixaBank we are very proud of the work carried out by the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation, which today is the Spanish private foundation that allocates the most resources to social action,” said the territorial director of the bank in the Region. Olga Garcia.
This professional also wanted to thank the third sector entities, “which have shown that they are one of the essential sectors of our society and that they have not stopped working for and for people.” In line with this, he underlined the importance of his work, now more than ever, and appreciated the work of Fundación ‘la Caixa’ this year in order to “redouble efforts to increase the budget for this aid program.”
Finally, the person in charge of closing the meeting was the Minister for Women, Equality, LGTBI, Families and Social Policy, Isabel Franco, who highlighted “the commitment of the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation with the work that has to do with justice and solidarity ». The head of the branch advocated “trying to contribute to this transformation of society in which we are all committed” and ended by asking those present for responsibility and prudence in the current pandemic situation that is being experienced around the world.
Abraham Ruiz. Head of Afesmo projects
“Working with families is a fundamental pillar of the project”
‘De Vuelta a casa’, the initiative launched by Afesmo, is a pioneer throughout the country. “Except in Zamora, there is nothing similar in Spain,” remarked the entity’s project manager, Abraham Ruiz. The initiative is an intermediate service between hospital admission and home for people with severe mental disorders in which we also work with families, “a pillar of our project,” he indicated, “so that they learn what is wrong with them. to his loved one, what is the suffering he has and what are the triggers that can lead to that person returning to the hospital.
To complement all this, the program searches the user’s environment for training and employment services, among others, and helps them to acquire skills necessary for their daily life, so that they “can be autonomous”.
Amparo Sánchez. Director of the Prolam-Astus day center
“We are going to make the aptitudes of people with disabilities visible”
The transfer of land near the Prolam day center, belonging to Astus, was the first stone that built the foundations of a dream. With this land and the financial support of Fundación ‘la Caixa’, the association is developing ‘El huerto de Prolam’, an initiative focused on the creation of an ecological garden in which it seeks to “cultivate health in the full sense of the word », Stressed the director of the day center, Amparo Sánchez.
With it, in addition to a leisure alternative, Astus is creating an environment “in which to enjoy nature” while working on healthy lifestyle habits and values and learning job skills that allow them to have a job opportunity. “We are going to give visibility to the capacities that they have and that are sometimes unknown due to prejudices,” he said.
Ana Belén Marco. Delegate of Radio ECCA in Murcia
“The program breaks with social isolation and favors mutual aid”
Improving the employability of women victims of gender violence is the objective of Radio ECCA. The company has developed a program in which these women work on both social skills and activities more focused on the workplace, such as creating resumes or how to face a job interview. They also receive occupational training in areas such as cleaning or social health care and, after doing internships, their insertion is sought through “contact with companies through which the insertion of women is encouraged”, highlights the delegate of Radio ECCA in Murcia, Ana Bethlehem Marco.
Along with all this, the initiative also has a social component thanks to which “situations of social isolation are broken and mutual help between them is encouraged.”
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