Every March 21st, World Down Syndrome Day is commemorated with the aim of raising awareness and demanding the fulfillment of their rights, a date chosen by the United Nations (UN) because it refers to trisomy of pair 21, a genetic alteration caused by the presence of an extra copy of this chromosome that gives it its name. A condition that influences the development of the person, but does not define their abilities or their worth.
As in any other group in society, individuals are diverse and each has their own talents, interests and unique ways of being, but also many others that unite them. People with Down Syndrome study, work, fall in love, have hobbies and dreams, exactly like everyone else. In addition, they bring an authentic, spontaneous and valuable vision to our society; and their active participation in education, employment, art, sports or in any area is an example of overcoming and talent.
Therefore, this March 21, the Social Association Creciendo wishes to launch a powerful message that favors inclusion, encouraging people to "embrace diversity", focusing on everything we have in common and not on what separates us. "There are many more things that unite us than those that don't," says its director Ligia Molnar, "and we believe it is important to emphasize this, as does Down Spain, an entity to which we are affiliated and which this 2025 has chosen the slogan 'Just Like You' for its campaign, a slogan that invites reflection on stereotypes and to make visible the reality of people with Down Syndrome, who live, love and dream like everyone else and, therefore, also deserve their opportunity to show the world what they are capable of. But we will only achieve this if we allow them to develop their full potential to live autonomously and make their own decisions, and by integrating them, giving them the opportunity to participate in all areas of life."
In this sense, the association works throughout the year on projects that favor the autonomy and independent living of these people, such as PEVIR or IPEVIR, as well as programs that offer support within the classroom for educational inclusion and inclusive leisure and sports activities to improve their quality of life with opportunities for personal growth, supported by the Yaiza City Council and the Cabildo of Lanzarote. In addition, since 2025 it has been affiliated with Down Spain, which allows it to work with support in the specialization of services.
To its continuous work of visibility and awareness through first-person talks and dynamics to break stereotypes, publicize the reality of people with functional diversity and demonstrate their capabilities, is added the work they do in these special days, in which they intensify actions and focus on publicizing the particularities of each type of diversity, as is the case of the Down Group of the association that in these days visits different educational centers of Fuerteventura or the dissemination in social networks of videos of young Down people of the island that show that their day to day is no different from the rest.
The association takes advantage of World Down Syndrome Day to thank the institutions for their involvement in the progress made, although it stresses that there is still much to be done, and applauds that, on the occasion of this commemoration, the Yaiza City Council will illuminate the town's Mill in blue and yellow this Friday, March 21.
The Social Association Creciendo works day by day with children and young people with functional diversity in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura promoting their real inclusion in all areas of life.
