This morning Formentera school children gathered in the plenary hall of the Consell de Formentera for the November Youth Plenary. Pupils from the island's three primary schools and secondary school —Mestre Lluís Andreu, Sant Ferran de ses Roques, El Pilar and Marc Ferrer— took part in assembly, which was chaired by Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, and co-chaired by Vanessa Parellada, councillor of youth affairs.

President Juan welcomed members of the children's and youth plenary session and thanked them for their participation. "This session allows us, as political representatives, to improve services on our island by taking note of your expectations", said Juan.

This year, the central theme of International Children's Day celebrations was mental health. In that connection, Councillor Parellada detailed the resources —social services, protection of youth, local schools' police liaison officer, and recreational activities at the youth drop-in centre— which the Consell de Formentera makes available to local youth in need of help.

Assembly members saw a presentation of participants at the eleventh Children's Parliament of the Balearic Islands on the occasion of Universal Children's Day. Then, Josep Lluís Riera, director of the Balearic Office of Children and Adolescents (OIAIB), gave a presentation in which he explained OIAIB's role defending and fomenting the rights of minors in the islands.

Assembly members made requests related to upgrading sports and educational facilities, cleaning forests, eliminating architectural barriers and more.

30 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Youth Affairs is pleased to announce the activities organised at the Casal de Joves during the month of December. Vanessa Parellada, councillor of youth affairs, asserted that, "once again the Casal has lined up many proposals so kids can enjoy the Christmas holidays with friends in their own space and with activity leaders there to guide them".

The first activity, on Friday 2 December, is a screening of CODA. With this eight-minute and eight-second short, young people will be able to reflect on the life of Paula, a daughter of deaf parents who lives between two worlds - one where people hear, one where they do not. Then, "A silent voice" tells the story of a deaf doll who is bullied when she changes schools. With this activity, the Casal adds its voice to International Day of Diversely-Abled People.

Christmas activities
The Christmas spirit will be in the air the Casal de Joves too. At 6.30pm on the first and last Wednesday of the month (7 and 28 December), youth can take in a Christmas-themed movie.

From 6.30pm Friday and Saturday, 9 and 10 December, they can join in a Christmas decorating workshop.  The Formentera Office of Youth is teeing up a visit from the royal pages to local schools on 20 and 21 December. Finally, from 6.30pm on Friday 30 December, younguns of the island can come out for a party to bid farewell to 2022.

All month long the Casal de Joves crowd will also be able to participate in other activities - playing games on Wii sports, making their own hamburgers, crafting slime, preparing pottery, performing acrobatics and visiting the local climbing wall. The Casal de Joves is for youth aged ten and up and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 4.00pm to 10.00pm, all year long.

30 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Youth Affairs reports that work has begun to develop the third strategic plan for Formentera children and young people. This Plan will benefit from the participation of local youth, organisations and social actors from a wide array of spheres related to children and youth.

Today, managers in departments of the local administration which deal with youth met with representatives of the Pere Tarrés Foundation, a non-profit focused on leisure and social action. A later meeting included representatives of the island's associations. In the days ahead additional meetings will be held with other entities, while still other encounters will be organised exclusively for young people.

In the words of Vanessa Parellada, "these meetings will give us an up-to-date read of the situation of local children and youth, which will allow us to determine which needs are best covered, outcomes of the second Plan for Children and Youth and the direction and scope of the third plan".

The second Plan was adopted in September 2018 and related proposals were to be developed between 2018 and 2022.

21 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Youth Affairs is pleased to report that three local pupils took part in the eleventh session of the Children's Parliament of the Balearic Islands held today. Vanessa Parellada, councillor of youth affairs, also attended the session, where the central theme was mental health.

Participants to Mallorca to present their proposals on behalf of the children and youth of Formentera and to discuss, together with young people from across the region, the importance of mental health in children and adolescents.

Video of the session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kpKRayY7vU

These activities are included in Formentera's programme of events commemorating International Children's Day.

18 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera