The event, held in the Plenary Hall of the Consistorial Houses, was presided over by the mayor of Telde, Juan Antonio Peña, accompanied by the Councilor for Solidarity, Juan Francisco Artiles, and other members of the municipal corporation. They welcomed the minors and the host families who are opening their homes to offer them a summer away from the extreme desert conditions.
Also in attendance were the president of the Canarian Association of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (ACSPS), Octavio Melián Hernández, the entity coordinating the program in the Canary Islands; the delegate of the Polisario Front in the Canary Islands, Alí Salem Sidi Zein, as well as representatives of host families and volunteers.
The 'Holidays in Peace' program, running since the nineties, is a key cooperation initiative in Spain. Its objective is to allow Sahrawi children to temporarily leave the refugee camps in Tindouf, where temperatures often exceed 50 degrees Celsius, enabling them to enjoy healthier living conditions.
In addition to rest and family coexistence, the program facilitates medical check-ups, healthcare, balanced nutrition, and educational, cultural, and leisure activities. It also aims to raise societal awareness about the situation the Sahrawi people have faced for decades. The initiative is a result of collaboration between solidarity associations, the Government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, the Polisario Front, and numerous public and private institutions.
During the event, Mayor Juan Antonio Peña highlighted the commitment of the Telde families, describing it as 'the best example of solidarity and humanity.' He also thanked the work of the ACSPS and the volunteers, emphasizing that such initiatives 'make Telde a city committed to human rights and international cooperation.'
Councilor for Solidarity, Juan Francisco Artiles, reaffirmed the City Council's commitment to a program that transcends international cooperation to become a profoundly human experience for both the minors and the families hosting them. He noted the effort made by host families and collaborators to ensure safe holidays and access to health checks.
Octavio Melián Hernández, president of the ACSPS, expressed gratitude for the involvement of public institutions, city councils, and especially host families, stating the program would not be possible without them. He highlighted that 'Holidays in Peace' not only improves the children's quality of life but also strengthens historical solidarity ties between the Canary Islands and the Sahrawi people.
Alí Salem Sidi Zein, delegate of the Polisario Front in the Canary Islands, present on behalf of the Sahrawi people, symbolized the institutional link with the solidarity associations and administrations collaborating in the hosting program.
Over the coming weeks, the minors will live with their host families in Telde, participate in recreational, sports, and cultural activities, undergo medical check-ups, and explore different parts of Gran Canaria before returning to their homes in the Tindouf camps at the end of the summer.
The event concluded with the presentation of gifts to the children and a unanimous message of gratitude to the Telde families for making the 'Holidays in Peace' program, a benchmark of solidarity and cooperation, possible once again.
