The Cabildo of Lanzarote received this Thursday morning the Saharan children of the Peace Vacation program, an initiative aimed at children from the refugee camps of Tindouf, who are hosted for two months by volunteer families from Lanzarote.
The reception, held at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Cabildo, was presided over by the vice president of the Island Corporation, María Jesús Tovar, the Minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, and the representative of the Saharawi Delegation, Alisalem Sidi Zein.
During the reception, the eight minors, seven boys and one girl, between 10 and 11 years old, who will spend these summer weeks with Lanzarote host families, were welcomed.
Vice President María Jesús Tovar stressed that "it is a pride to be able to offer them the opportunity to enjoy the summer in a safe, familiar environment and with access to the medical care they need." "I want to thank the host families and the associations involved, because without their solidarity this project would not be possible," she added.
For his part, the Minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, said that "this program reflects the commitment of the Lanzarote community to this cause, and the Island Corporation will continue to support it year after year."
"The Saharawi people have been resisting with dignity for 50 years in very harsh conditions and children are the ones who suffer the most. Thanks to this initiative we can provide them with a significant improvement in their quality of life," said the Minister.
Throughout their stay in Lanzarote, the Saharawi minors will participate in various recreational and cultural activities organized by the families and collaborating entities, in addition to undergoing medical check-ups to assess their state of health.
The delegate Alisalem Sidi Zein stressed that "this program offers minors a respite from the harsh weather conditions of the camps, where temperatures can exceed 49, and even 50 degrees Celsius."
"These relationships strengthen the ties between the Saharawi and Canary people through family contact. I want to thank the Cabildo of Lanzarote for its continued support and we hope that in future editions we can expand the campaign," concluded the delegate.
In addition to the climatic relief, the stay also provides an opportunity for minors to improve their level of Spanish, which is the second language in Western Sahara.
This year, three of the minors will live their last summer within the program, as they reach the participation limit of four consecutive years. This rotation allows new children to benefit from this project in future editions.
