The Government of the Canary Islands held the Valbanera 2026 awards ceremony this Thursday at the Jameos del Agua auditorium in Lanzarote, coinciding with the Canary Islands Migration Day. The awards recognized the work of IES El Tablero–Aguañac, Emerlan, the Federation of Canary Entities of Venezuela (Fedecanarias), and lawyer Steve Alfonso Chiscano in addressing migratory realities and facilitating coexistence.
Candelaria Delgado, Minister of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Childhood, and Families, emphasized the importance of memory, identity, and coexistence, highlighting the empathy and responsibility characteristic of the Canary Islands as a land of emigrants. She praised the awardees' efforts in addressing migration and promoting inclusion.
The event, which concluded the 3rd edition of MIGRADMI, an initiative by the Ministry of Social Welfare, brought together public administrations, social entities, and professionals to discuss strategies and experiences in migration, cultural diversity, and community inclusion. Delgado described the Canary Islands as "a land of welcome" that maintains ties with its communities abroad and views diversity as integral to its future.
Oswaldo Betancort, president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, underscored the Canary Islands' dual migratory experience as both a land of emigration and arrival. He stressed the need for planning, funding, and shared responsibility from the State and Europe to address this reality, calling for the Canary Islands to have "its own voice" in decision-making.
José Téllez, Director General of Emigration, commended FEDECanarias for uniting Canary Islander entities in Venezuela and for their social, cultural contributions, and commitment to "Canariedad," particularly after the earthquake in the country. He also acknowledged the work of Steve Chiscano, Spain's honorary consul in San Antonio, Texas, as a "great ambassador for the Canary Islands" and a promoter of the Álamo Museum.
Elisabet Santana, Director General of Social Services and Immigration, contextualized the Valbanera distinctions within MIGRADMI, an event that gathered over 300 people in Lanzarote to discuss migration, diversity, and community inclusion, focusing on neighborhoods as units of intervention.
The Valbanera 2026 Awards recognize education as a tool for integration (IES El Tablero-Aguañac, in Gran Canaria, for its intercultural project), solidarity with newcomers (Emerlan, for its rescue and assistance work with vulnerable individuals on dangerous migration routes), support for Canary Islander communities abroad (FEDECANARIAS, for maintaining ties with Venezuela), and the preservation of migratory memory (Steve Alfonso Chiscano, for strengthening links between the Canary Islands and San Antonio, Texas).
IES El Tablero-Aguañac was honored for transforming the diversity of its classrooms, with students from over thirty nationalities, into an educational opportunity, highlighting initiatives like "Africa: A Positive View." Emerlan, with over 120 volunteers since 2001, was recognized for its rescue, healthcare, and maritime safety efforts, particularly on the Atlantic route.
FEDECANARIAS, founded in 1990, unites the Canary Islander community in Venezuela, preserving its culture and identity, and undertaking significant social and healthcare work. Steve Alfonso Chiscano, a lawyer and diplomat, has promoted the twinning of San Antonio and Lanzarote, Canary Islander history at the Álamo Museum, and the preservation of historical sites, strengthening nearly three centuries of shared history.
