Earlier today the Formentera Youth Department announced details about the activities lined up next month at the island’s youth drop-in centre. Councillor Vanessa Parellada told local youngsters to expect a renewed focus on awareness building this December, and encouraged youth to set time aside for Casal de Joves Christmas celebrations as well.

Programming will run the gamut, with activities on Tuesday 2 December commemorating International Functional Diversity Day (3 December); a Thursday workshop where participants can craft their own reflex-stimulators and a Friday mic-less karaoke session.

Christmas holidays
Day-one of Christmas holiday preparations on 11 December comes with an open invitation to help decorate the Casal for the yuletide season. As part of a Secret Santa on 16 December, participants are encouraged to give gifts made from recycled materials.

On 19 December the fun is at Es Cap football pitch, where youth are invited to join a mixed match. Participants are asked to reserve in advance.

Wednesdays at the Casal are film days and this month is no exception. On 23 December the 13+ street dancers that meet 4.30pm to 5.30pm every week from Tuesday to Saturday will screen a demo video recorded by the group. The December programme concludes on the 29th with a FIFA 2020 competition.

Covid-19 safety measures will be in place at all events.

27 November 2020
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

This morning Consell de Formentera president Alejandra Ferrer and youth services councillor Vanessa Parellada chaired an online plenary session of the island’s Consell de Participació de la Infància i la Joventut (Youth Participatory Council) with attendees from CEIP Mestre Lluís Andreu, CEIP Sant Ferran de ses Roques and CEIP El Pilar de la Mola.

President Ferrer described the previous year as one marked by the coronavirus crisis, applauding children and youth for exemplary action during the toughest moments of lockdown, and telling them to expect an unusual Christmas 2020. “We adults are going to keep looking to you as examples, like when schools reopened”, she said. “Here’s to sharing hugs again in 2021”, she added.

Ferrer also gave an overview of the 2021 budget, underscoring assistance for families and businesses and funding for construction projects like the new Sant Ferran school and escoleta, a seniors’ home, a park in Sant Ferran and a skate and fitness park in Sant Francesc — something she assured was “high on Formentera young people’s wishlist”.

Attendees watched a video from the sixth Congreso Estatal on 23 and 24 October, an event which saw collaboration from two Formentera schoolchildren. Next, participants ran through a list of concerns with regard to the environment, equality, solidarity, education and participation. The officials took note and committed to addressing the issues.

24 November 2020
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

On this, World Children’s Day (20 November), four members of the Formentera Youth Participatory Council joined young people from across the region for the ninth assembly of the Balearic Islands’ Youth Parliament. The session was held online and found participants sharing conclusions from work on the Sustainable Development Goals for health and the environment. Formentera’s representatives at the gathering included one child from CEIP Mestre Lluís Andreu, two from CEIP Sant Ferran and one from CEIP El Pilar.

Youth department councillor Vanessa Parellada sat for the session too, and highlighted participants’ unity behind measures to press government to keep working towards sustainability; build awareness around reducing consumption and waste, and invest in clean energy. Attendees agreed on the importance of potable water and using it responsibly, and called for a firm commitment to sustainable mobility, electric vehicles and cycling. Children in participatory councils across the region considered what life will be like ten years from now, imagining possible scenarios and weighing proposals for a sustainable route to 2030.

Youth plenary on Formentera, 24 November
On Tuesday 24 November, the Consell de Formentera will host another online assembly, this time of the island’s Participatory Youth Council. The PYC’s twice yearly full-house sessions aim to promote the active involvement of Formentera’s children and youth —fully capable of thought and expression— in local policy.

20 November 2020
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

The Consell de Formentera announces that work will begin today, World Children’s Day, to build a 2,727-sq.-metre skate and fitness park along the Sant Francesc ring road. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-April.

The skate park will comprise one circuit for traditional skateboarding, one for “street” skating and another bowl-shaped structure. The space will also feature a fitness circuit for the elderly and green areas devoted to leisure. The project is expected to cost €482,723.

Youth services councillor Vanessa Parellada asserted that local youngsters not only widely supported the plans, but collaborated in their design too. “We’re thrilled to finally see the park get off the ground”, she said, enumerating perks like the park’s “snug fit into its surroundings, a walking path and universally accessibility. Our hope is that many different segments of the island will enjoy the space and interact here.”

Project
Infrastructure councillor Josep Marí gave details about the 285-sq.-metre fitness circuit for the elderly, which will include assorted exercise machines and a rest area.

Free of obstacles, the 255-sq.-metre traditional skate park will be bordered on all sides by low concrete barrier delimiting the skating area and doubling as a bench.

Approximating the kind of street furniture traditionally found in parks and public squares, a nearby 238-sq.-metre section will feature obstacles like ramps, benches, platforms, railings and steps that are typical to “street” skate parks. The concrete will be polished by craftsmen.

The star feature of the fitness area will a 617-sq.-metre “bowl” modality: a raised platform with swimming pool-shaped indentations of 2.5 to 3.75 metres deep and 2.4- to 3.3-metre radii. The “bowl” will be surrounded by a green garden area featuring shaded spaces, benches and a walking path.

20 November 2020
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera