The controversy arose after the education department of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council declined a 18,000 euro subsidy from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, intended for hiring educational assistants for inclusive camps. This situation directly impacts family reconciliation and the right to inclusion for minors.
“"Ignored, discriminated against, segregated, I'm running out of words to describe it."
Reportedly, the municipal justification for not accepting the subsidy was that the tender had expired, preventing its timely and proper justification. As an alternative, the council offered to provide existing special education centers, with the city council covering cleaning and security, a proposal rejected by the affected groups.
Families argue that their goal is not an exclusive camp, but an inclusive one that allows their children to leave the school environment and enjoy leisure experiences. They assert that minors with special needs are "citizens of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria" with the same right to recreation and normalization of their condition, seeking to foster coexistence and prevent bullying.
“"They are laughing in our faces."
The lack of these resources during the summer exacerbates the problem of family reconciliation, forcing parents to "juggle" responsibilities and, in some cases, even lose their jobs. After five years of struggle without solutions, frustration is palpable. Furthermore, the claim that children from Enclave Classrooms can access these camps has been refuted, as autonomy requirements exclude many of them.
