The Formentera Council's social welfare office has announced forthcoming signups, October 17-31, for the administration's seventh course on social and cultural integration. The course is held twice annually; once in November and again in March. This round of classes will begin November 3 and run until November 29.

Space is available for 15, and anyone interested in participating should visit the Office of Social Welfare. A form of ID (foreign resident's card or passport) is needed for enrolment. The course, which includes a total of 20 hours of instruction, is given over two weekly sessions: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4.30 to 7.00pm. Classes are held at the centre for adult learning, l'Escola d'Adults, and taught by Dolores Tamargo.

The course, which will turn on Spain's constitutional values, human rights and civil liberties, the so-named “statute of autonomy” guiding the Balearic region, the European Union, gender equality and other subjects, aims to educate students on the course content and furnish a certificate of completion. In particular, the course is geared toward immigrants and serves for renewals, to prepare students for the CCSE citizenship test and as integration accreditation in initial residency requests.

Benestar Social, the social welfare arm of the Formentera Council (CiF), hosted a coordination meeting today between the island's emergency service agencies and Minaya Benavente, the coordinator for the 112 emergency telephone number psychological counselling service. Vanessa Parellada gave details via press conference after the fact.

The councillor said the meeting served to “recount details of the deal struck this month between our emergency response agencies and the institute of psychologists”. Under the deal's terms, the number of psychologists on the service rises from 2 to 3. The coordinator called the service “essential to preventing a second process of victimisation” and underscored the assistance it affords at-risk groups.

The gathering was attended by representatives of the fire brigade, lifesaving and rescue services, local police, Guardia Civil, health workers and some of the psychological institute's member therapists, all of whom can use the service as necessary.

Jaume Ferrer, the president of the Formentera Council (CiF), and Josep Marí, the director of CaixaBank branch 00187 in Sant Francesc Xavier, sat down today to put their signatures on an agreement to sponsor a senior citizens' programme called Gent Gran at two of the island's centres for the elderly. In so doing, both institutions hope to renew their commitment to active ageing. CiF social welfare councillor Vanessa Parellada was also present at the signing.

In particular, the deal stands to impact the local retirees' and pensioners' club and the Sant Ferran social club and seniors' centre. So far this year, the two centres have been the scene of some ten workshops and guided activities, attended by more than 200 seniors. Obra Social “la Caixa” has announced plans to extend a number of its health and IT initiatives to other senior centres.

The Gent Gran programme is Obra Social “la Caixa”'s flagship initiative, its origins stretching back to 1915. For a century, Gent Gran's offshoot projects have, with help from actors like the Formentera Council, evolved to meet the changing needs of the programme's target group.

The new generation of elderly citizens
The aim of Gent Gran is to promote seniors' active participation in their communities and respond to their most up-to-the-minute needs. The programme revolves around health and wellbeing workshops, social engagement, volunteering and IT training.

In an announcement made today, the Formentera Council Office of Social Welfare released details about two lectures on breastfeeding to be given this week at the Formentera hospital in commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week. One of the talks, scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, 5.00 to 7.00pm in the hospital's conference room, will centre on weaning. The second, slated to take place on Friday, will focus on the effect that childbirth can have on the breastfeeding process.

Not only has the Formentera Council provided money to fund Friday's lecture, but the administration has also put forward 500 euros for the cash prizes that will be awarded to winners of the photo contest on breastfeeding in the Pitiüsa islands. Prizes for that competition, which was organised jointly by Eivissa and Formentera's heath bureau and an association that works to promote breastfeeding in the Balearics, were handed out yesterday at the former Can Misses hospital of Eivissa. Formentera's councillor of social welfare, Vanessa Parellada, was in attendance at the ceremony.