Lanzarote experienced a magical and solidarity-filled day last Saturday with the celebration of the I Lúdico Encounter The Smile of Children, the Best Gift, a festival that transformed the Plaza del Calvario in Tinajo into a meeting point for social integration and coexistence.
Organized by the Tempoko sociocultural association, with the support of the Cabildo de Lanzarote and the Ayuntamiento de Tinajo, this pioneering event in the Canary Islands managed to bring together hundreds of people around a common cause: the well-being of the most vulnerable minors on the island.
From early in the morning, families, young people and children of all ages gathered in a space that combined art, sport and solidarity. Craft workshops, percussion, face painting and playful dynamics filled the heart of Tinajo with life and color. Throughout the day, African and Canarian music set the rhythm, while activities such as acroyoga, circus and a solidarity market completed the offer.
The Minister of Social Welfare, Marci Acuña, present at the event, expressed his satisfaction with the success of the day: "This festival is an example of how we can transform differences into opportunities for learning and coexistence. Today, Lanzarote has shown that it is a supportive island committed to social integration. It is a pride to see how, together, we can create spaces full of hope and joy for those who need it most."
For her part, Cristina Martel, promoter of the event and representative of the Tempoko association, highlighted the meaning of the festival: "It has been an unforgettable day. This meeting not only provides moments of fun, but is also a clear message of inclusion. We are excited to see how unaccompanied minors, families and young people share, laugh and create memories together. This is the beginning of something big in Lanzarote."
Inspired by the Sourire des Enfants solidarity festival in Burkina Faso, this event marked a milestone on the island by focusing its attention on unaccompanied foreign minors, providing them with a space to feel welcomed and respected. According to Martel, "the idea of this meeting was born from the need to offer a dignified and meaningful Christmas for these minors, while promoting art and sport as tools for social integration."
The day, which culminated with a special concert in the late afternoon, made it clear that the festival not only met its objectives, but exceeded initial expectations, establishing itself as a benchmark for solidarity and coexistence in the Canary Islands.
In this sense, Acuña and Martell agreed on the need to transform this event into an annual event, reaffirming the commitment of institutions and associations to inclusion and social welfare in Lanzarote.
"Today we have not only given smiles; we have sown hope and demonstrated that together we can build a more inclusive and supportive society," Acuña concluded.
