The Social Association Creciendo has successfully started a new program of "Family Respite", an initiative that aims to "alleviate the physical and emotional burden of mothers, fathers or non-professional caregivers of minors with functional diversity, offering them moments for leisure or rest while their children enjoy recreational activities".
Thus, this past Sunday, January 29, monitors and volunteers from the association attended to more than a dozen children and young people who participated in an activity program developed at the Santa Rosa de Costa Teguise Club, which included games, swimming pool, breakfast and lunch in group, while their parents enjoyed five hours of "respite".
"It is about alleviating a little that physical and emotional burden that the care of minors implies for any family, but that intensifies and is especially sensitive when we talk about boys and girls with functional diversity," says the director of the association, Ligia Molnar. "We see that it is a need of families that, if it is not through initiatives of this type, they are simply not covered," says Molnar, while clarifying that it is "an initiative open not only to parents but to any family member or non-professional caregiver who takes care of children or young people with special needs".
The "Family Respite" program is a temporary care service subsidized by the Ministry of Social Rights, Equality, Diversity and Youth of the Government of the Canary Islands, which will be developed until June 30 with day or night services in which the needs of these boys and girls will be met, also promoting personal autonomy through the various activities they will carry out, and which include art and dance sessions twice a week, an outing or activity on the third Saturday of each month and other sessions, workshops or conferences that will be added depending on the demand and possibilities.
The project offers this service to a maximum of 35 users who must be residents in Lanzarote and have some type of limitation, disability, developmental disorder or risk of suffering from it.
"There are still places available, so those who meet the requirements and wish to participate can contact the association through the email respirofamiliarASCY@ascreciendo.org, where a social educator will register them in the program, which is free, and will inform them of all the details," they explain from the association.
The program of activities planned for the children and young people who participate in the "Family Respite" project also includes visits to the Gran Karting Club, Rancho Texas, bowling alley or Aqualava water park, among others.