Alejandro Marichal: “Listening to students is essential to building a fairer, safer, and more responsible municipality. Their proposals stem from direct experience and an honest perspective on what works and what needs improvement.”
Dimas Sarmiento: “On World Children’s Day we must remember that the protection, well-being and participation of children are shared responsibilities.”
The San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council held another edition of its Children's Plenary Session on November 21st, an initiative integrated into the socio-community project "Creating a Just World," promoted by the Department of Social Services. A total of 60 sixth-grade students participated in this event, designed to introduce them to the workings of the municipal institution, foster their critical thinking, and promote awareness and advocacy for children's rights.
The participating schools were CEIP Santa Águeda, CEIP El Matorral, CEO Tunte, and CEIP Arenas Sur. In the weeks leading up to the event, all students participated in a workshop called "Knowing Our Rights," where they reflected on the fundamental articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and developed proposals that they ultimately presented to the mayor and the municipal council. During this process, they explored concepts such as the right to life, protection from violence, quality education, the importance of respect, and the need for safe and healthy environments.
The Children's Plenary Session began with the formation of the committee, in which the students assumed the different roles typical of a plenary session. Students designated as councilors, auditor, and secretary spoke, allowing them to experience a realistic and educational firsthand understanding of democratic processes. From this platform, they shared their concerns and proposals related to Articles 19, 24, 27, and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The El Matorral Primary School highlighted the urgent need to restore the neighborhood playground in El Matorral, a space they consider essential for their children's physical and emotional well-being, as the lack of a play area limits their physical activity and socialization. They also emphasized the importance of improving cleanliness in the neighborhood and on nearby beaches through educational campaigns, increased maintenance staff, and collaboration with schools. Furthermore, they stressed the need to strengthen security in the area, especially at night, and requested a greater police and lifeguard presence in the bathing areas.
CEO Tunte focused his remarks on the right to protection from violence, explaining that guaranteeing the emotional and physical safety of children is essential for their development. Among his proposals, he highlighted the creation of a "Confidence Box," an anonymous resource that would allow for reporting situations of risk in schools and other municipal spaces. The students also raised questions about municipal protocols for responding to situations of violence or neglect in public places and about coordination between schools, healthcare facilities, and social services to address at-risk cases quickly and effectively.
The Santa Águeda Primary School addressed the need to improve protocols against bullying and strengthen emotional support measures for affected children. They also developed proposals related to Article 29 on the objectives of education, emphasizing the importance of fostering tolerance, respect, and coexistence among peers. Furthermore, they highlighted the need for faster action in the face of pollution incidents or environmental damage and for involving all social stakeholders in the protection of the natural environment.
During the session, the acting mayor, Alejandro Marichal, highlighted the importance of this initiative and emphasized the value of children's participation in the municipality's public life. “Listening to children is essential for building a fairer, safer, and more responsible municipality. Their proposals stem from direct experience and an honest perspective on what works and what needs improvement. Giving them the opportunity to express themselves in a municipal council meeting is not only an educational exercise but also a commitment to a citizenry that begins to develop from childhood. Today they have demonstrated that their voice carries weight and that their ideas truly contribute to improving San Bartolomé de Tirajana,” Marichal stated.
For his part, the Councilor for Social Services, Dimas Sarmiento, highlighted the importance of celebrating World Children's Day with activities that put children at the center. “This plenary session is much more than a symbolic act: it is an educational tool that allows children to learn about their rights, reflect on them, and actively participate in public life. On World Children's Day, we must remember that the protection, well-being, and participation of children are shared responsibilities. Activities like this reinforce their self-esteem, their analytical skills, and their sense of belonging to the municipality,” he noted. Sarmiento also praised the work carried out by the PROINFA staff and technicians in developing this activity, as well as the work done in the schools, thanks to the teachers' involvement, which ensured that the proposals presented were well-developed, reasoned, and relevant to the realities of each school community.
At the end of the plenary session, the students received a certificate recognizing their participation and their role as children's council members. The day concluded with a healthy breakfast and a special program of activities that included recreational and creative workshops, dance, and storytelling, which fostered social interaction, artistic expression, and shared learning through this democratic experience.
