Jaume Ferrer, president of the Formentera Council, and Maria Costa, chair of NGO Formenterers Solidaris, met today to put their signatures on a deal handing the group Council money to carry out aid projects in developing countries. The deal additionally sets out a plan to raise awareness among Formentera residents in 2016.

The year-long pact is renewable and provides 3,000 euros in funding. Also in attendance at the signing were CiF social welfare councillor Vanessa Parellada and Formenterers Solidaris's secretary, Teresa Costa.

Earlier today, the Formentera Council's Office of Social Welfare announced its plan to funnel 30,000 euros into grants for associations and private non-profits involved in social work and public health. The aim of the assistance is twofold: to push forward social and health initiatives as well as support non-profits' work to improve living conditions for dependent seniors, people with disabilities and individuals that suffer mental or chronic conditions.

Eligible non-profits can apply for the grants at the Citizens' Information Office through June 18. The Council will cover up to 75 per cent of project costs, up to a maximum of 14,000 euros. Last year two of four applicant groups received grants. APMIPTEA and APNEEF were each awarded assistance packages of 14,000 euros, while the other two applicant groups failed to meet the required criteria.

Earlier today, the Formentera Council convened a plenary meeting of the island's youth participatory council. CiF Jaume Ferrer was on hand to welcome the young councilmembers, students of the primary and secondary schools on the island. Vanessa Parellada, vice-president of the youth council and the CiF's councillor of social welfare, outlined the projects requested by participants at today's plenary. Over the next year, the CiF will undertake playground improvements at Formentera schools and parks, an initiative that was first adopted by the island's community representative board, el Consell d'Entitats.

Members of the youth participatory council issued a list of activities for kids and teens in hopes they are taken into consideration when programmes are drafted for upcoming local holidays. The activities list was drafted in response to a request from the CiF's Office of Culture and Local Holidays. Department head Susana Labrador pointed out the activities would be studied and options weighted. The Council pledged to include the proposals and pass them along to several committees and and local party associations.

The Formentera Council president proposed a new location for the skate park: between the children's play area near Sa Tanca Vella and the Sant Francesc roundabout. All the plenary attendants backed the idea. This is not the first time the island's youth have pushed for a skate park to be rebuilt. The Council put completion of the new park's construction at year-end 2016, start of 2017.

During the plenary, Núria Mayans, president of the Pau Mayans association, asked the attendants to keep individuals with disabilities in mind as they took part in the meetings. The neophyte councilmembers also showed an interest in current events such as the spike in snakes on the island and cases of theft and vehicle arson. Plenary meetings of the Formentera youth participatory are biannual; the first is held in November and the second was today.

The Formentera Council's Office of Social Welfare has announced that in 2016 it will make 13,000 euros of aid available to local “hometown groups”, emigrants' collectives and other Formentera non-profits. To apply, a group must organise activities related to immigration or work with transplant populations on programming that promotes  welcoming and integration.

Each association can only submit one application. Grant awards will cover up to 75% of the total cost of a group's project, with no more than 4,000 euros in subsidies given per activity. Applications are to be handed in at the Citizens' Information Office no later than June 13. A technical committee will be tasked with determining how grants are distributed. Last year four grants of this type were awarded. One went to the Andalusian cultural association of Formentera, one to the association that plans the island's yearly intercultural day, one to the Extremaduran cultural association of Eivissa-Formentera and one to a group that promotes traditional cuisine on the island. Grants ranged from 2,000 to 4,000 euros each.