The Formentera Office of Social Welfare is pleased to announce the week-long programme of activities in celebration of International Volunteer Day (5 December).

Rafael Ramírez, councillor of social welfare, highlighted the work of "Formentera's volunteers -entities and individuals alike- for a more egalitarian, participatory and associative society", and noted that "government agencies have supported them, acknowledged their efforts and increased their visibility".

The programme starts this Wednesday 30 November, with two sessions at the Formentera Office of Social Welfare (Sala de Formació; Conselleria de Benestar Social [CBS]). The first, from 4.00pm to 6.30pm, is a basic volunteer training session and the second, from 6.30pm to 8.00pm, an information session for volunteer organisations. The two sessions will be led by the Plataforma del Voluntariat de les Illes Balears. To sign up for the basic info session, contact CBS. Telephone 971 32 12 71

On Thursday 1 December, Formentera will host the Balearic government's awards gala for volunteering. The event will begin at 7.00pm in the Consell de Formentera plenary hall (sala de plens), and will include a video tribute to the island's volunteers made by the Consell de Formentera.

On Friday 2 December, a banner will be hung on the balcony of the seat of local government.

On Monday 5 December, Volunteer Day, 10.00am to 1.00pm in the Plaça de la Constitució, volunteer groups of the island will set up information tables and highlight the actions and projects they carry out. The Association of People with Special Needs of Eivissa and Formentera (APNEEF), Spanish Cancer Association (AECC), Three Kings Association, Intercultural Festival Association, Spanish Red Cross and Acción Francisco will participate. On the same day, the Consell will take to social media to post its video tribute to volunteers.

28 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Social Welfare has hosted a training on preventing child sexual abuse conducted by the Support Network for Abused Children (Red de Ayuda a Niños Abusados, RANA). A series of sessions were geared towards years five and six of early-childhood education and years one, two and three of primary education at the La Mola, Sant Ferran and Mestre Lluís Andreu schools.

Children in early-childhood learning read "Kiko and the hand" (Kiko i la mà), which uses plain-spoken language to explain how to avoid inappropriate physical contact, how to react if necessary and how to ask for help.

The primary education sessions took place under the umbrella of "Shout Loud" (Crida ben fort), a programme built around Isabel Olid's story "Crida ben fort, Estela!", in which children learn to demand respect and take action in situations of sexual abuse.

RANA is a non-profit foundation in the Balearic Islands which works to prevent child abuse through education and networking activities.

15 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today individuals in the disability unit of the Formentera Day Centre concluded summer activities with a swim in a swimming pool adapted for people with reduced mobility and a breakfast at Hotel Tahití.

Formentera's adult day care centre typically proposes outdoor activities, notably in summer, when weather and other conditions allow for a wider range of activities. To cap this season, the hotel treated participants to a buffet breakfast and a morning at the hotel's facilities, which include a swimming pool adapted for people with reduced mobility.

The owners of Hotel Tahití built the pool to offer obstacle-free swimming to their nephew Toni. Toni, who had reduced mobility, also attended the Formentera Day Centre for many years. The Formentera Office of Social Welfare applaud the hotel's collaboration in enabling day centre users to enjoy this special day.

14 October 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The immigration division of the Formentera Office of Social Welfare (Conselleria de Benestar Social, CBSF) is pleased to announce that registration for the 18th Social and Cultural Integration for Foreigners will open 19 October. The course will take shape between 3 and 29 November at Formentera's adult learning centre (Escola d'Adults).

Signups for the free course run 19 to 28 October at the CBSF, located at the Centre de Dia de Formentera, venda des Brolls 7179. For more information call 971 321 271 or email immigracio@conselldeformentera.cat.

Rafael Ramírez, councillor of social welfare, said the course was a sign of local government's "continued commitment to helping newcomers integrate and stay on the right side of administrative imperatives".

Besides helping students prepare for the CCSE citizenship test, participation in the course enables individuals to obtain accreditation from the Balearic government attesting to their will to integrate. Topics covered will include Spain's constitutional values, human rights and civil liberties, the Balearic Statute of Autonomy, the European Union and gender equality, among others Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4.30pm to 7.00pm.

11 October 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera