The Lanzarote Island Council, chaired by Oswaldo Betancort, presented this Monday the Island Space for Inclusion and Social Welfare, a modern public resource for the training, guidance, and strengthening of groups that protect the most vulnerable people in Lanzarote and La Graciosa. The center, located in the old DAOS school in Puerto del Carmen, becomes an island benchmark for inclusion, accessibility, and social support from today onwards.
The event was attended by the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort; the Minister of Social Welfare of the Government of the Canary Islands, Candelaria Delgado; the insular minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña; as well as the vice-president María Jesús Tovar. Also present were the mayor of Tías, José Juan Cruz, the Cabildo councilors Aroa Revelo and Ascensión Toledo, and numerous members from many of the more than sixty Third Sector associations and entities operating on the island, whose massive participation has highlighted the relevance of this important resource within the island's social network.
The institutional visit began in the residential area of the property, a space intended for meetings, workshops, and conferences that can accommodate up to 30 people overnight. Next, the delegation toured the soccer and basketball courts, where the president and authorities were able to chat with young people engaged in activities during the morning, before continuing to explore other areas of the building.
Oswaldo Betancort congratulated councilor Marci Acuña for the work carried out, highlighting the strategic importance of the new space: “A Cabildo is not efficient if it does not protect its people. Inclusion and Third Sector groups are experiencing a historic day today,” he stated. The president also emphasized the quality of life this center will bring to numerous families: “Our obligation is to continue offering them active policies on equality, and not mere speeches, because the happiness of our people is the basis of our public action.”
A center conceived for real support
The Minister of Social Welfare of the Government of the Canary Islands, Candelaria Delgado, has highlighted the Cabildo's role in building inclusive public policies, stating that "the Cabildo of Lanzarote is an example in its relationship with the Third Sector, with which it maintains a fluid dialogue. It is also an example of how to manage, from the public sector, the limited resources we sometimes have." She also pointed out that the social concert promoted by the Corporation serves as a model for the other island councils in the Archipelago.
For his part, the Minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion of the Cabildo, Marci Acuña, recalled during his speech that the new center is fully integrated into the Accessibility and Inclusion Strategy of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, approved in November 2024. He stated that the center is born as "a place for meeting, training, and collaboration aimed at promoting inclusion in areas such as disability, dependency, childhood, the elderly, mental health, or the fight against poverty." He also announced that this will be the future headquarters of the Third Sector Social Action Council, reinforcing participation and co-governance between social organizations and the CabildoLikewise, Acuña announced the Institution's intention to acquire the property to consolidate it as a long-term strategic resource. He also highlighted the importance of situating this space in Puerto del Carmen, integrating social action and tourism as part of Lanzarote's identity. Finally, he announced that a participatory process will be opened for the third sector itself to choose the name of the center."This resource allows us to move decisively towards a socially sustainable island, where equal opportunities are a real and daily principle, not a declaration of intent," he said
The vice president and head of the Project Planning and Coordination Area, María Jesús Tovar, assured that this facility "responds to a social need in Lanzarote. We were clear that, through FDCAN funds, we had to support this project that strengthens the most vulnerable groups on both islands. We continue to work and invest in facilities for all citizens," she pointed out.
The Insular Space, in detail
The Insular Space for Inclusion and Social Welfare of Lanzarote and La Graciosa has 15 classrooms, 6 of which will be approved for training with professional certificates, an industrial kitchen and dining room for 45 people, a multipurpose room for training and meetings with a capacity for 60 people, equipped with projectors and work areas, a reception, meeting room, and two individual consultation offices, as well as 9 additional classrooms, several offices, and spaces reserved for Third Sector entities on the second floor.
The center occupies a plot of 7,735 m² and a built area of 1,891.49 m², characteristics that make it an ideal space for the development of comprehensive inclusion programs and accredited training with high employment prospects.
One of the key elements of the project is its excellent connectivity: an IntercityBus Lanzarote line passes right in front of the property's entrance, facilitating access for students from various points on the island and aligning with the sustainability and efficient mobility criteria promoted by the Cabildo.
This new space will not only allow us to offer more and better services, but it will also foster a true alliance between administrations, social organizations, business entities, and citizens, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Cabildo of Lanzarote has taken a decisive step towards the Island of Care model it advocates: a fairer, more inclusive, and cohesive island.
