The Canary Students' Union (UDECA), the NoPor OnSex Educational Association, the Association of People with Disabilities of Lanzarote (ADISLAN), along with Cristina Martel Martín and Sabah Oualit Quensi, have been honored with the 2026 Canary Youth Awards. These accolades celebrate trajectories and projects linked to youth participation, education, inclusion, solidarity, and social transformation in the archipelago.
The award ceremony will take place on Friday, September 25th, at the Guaires Cultural Center in Gáldar, Gran Canaria. The Minister of Social Welfare, Candelaria Delgado, highlighted the commitment of Canary Islands youth, while the Director General of Youth, Daniel Morales, emphasized the diversity of the 65 submitted candidacies.
In the '8 Islands' category, UDECA (Tenerife) is recognized for its over three decades of defending student rights and promoting youth associationism since 1989. The organization, comprising 21 associations, was highlighted for its role as a driver of participation and training for students.
The award in the Collective category goes to the NoPor OnSex Educational Association (Gran Canaria) for its educational and community work addressing the influence of pornography and digital culture on adolescent sexuality. Its 'Por-No Hablar' project fosters critical thinking and relationships based on respect and communication.
Cristina Martel Martín (Lanzarote) receives the individual award for her career as a nurse, international aid worker, and promoter of solidarity projects. As the founder of the Tempoko Association, she coordinates social impact initiatives in the Canary Islands, particularly for vulnerable children and migrant minors.
Two honorable mentions were also awarded. In the Collective category, ADISLAN (Lanzarote) is recognized for over five decades of work with people with intellectual disabilities, promoting their autonomy and active community inclusion.
The Individual honorable mention goes to Sabah Oualit Quensi (Tenerife), a Philosophy graduate, for her commitment to the inclusion of deaf individuals in the Canary Islands. As president of the Association of Deaf People of Tenerife (ASORTE), she champions empowerment and the creation of positive role models for young deaf people.
The jury, composed of eight members, acknowledged the quality and diversity of the initiatives, underscoring the involvement of Canary Islands youth in building a more just and egalitarian society.
