The initiative Fuerteventura Protagonista, a collaboration between the Fuerteventura Insular Council and the University of La Laguna (through its General Foundation) along with the island's town councils, seeks to establish a network of administrative cooperation focused on strengthening citizen participation. A key meeting for this new stage, aimed at consolidating a collaborative working model and continuous support, was held on July 14 in Puerto del Rosario.
The meeting included representatives from the Fuerteventura Insular Council, including councilor Víctor Alonso Falcón, and Citizen Participation councilors from the town councils of Tuineje (Pedro Rodríguez), Pájara (Nuria Moaré Crespón), Antigua (Victoria Cerdeña González), and Puerto del Rosario (Jenifer Pérez). From the University of La Laguna and its Foundation, attendees included Vicente Zapata Hernández (academic director), Alexis Mesa Marrero (technical coordinator), and technicians María Candelaria Siverio Grillo and Carolina Medina Mañas. The town councils of La Oliva and Betancuria, absent due to scheduling conflicts, reaffirmed their commitment to the project.
This new phase will focus on revitalizing the Fuerteventura Insular Council's Citizen Participation Regulation as a tool to foster a stable participation culture. Development of Community Nodes will be deepened; these are spaces designed for interaction between administrations, technicians, citizens, and social fabric, promoting mutual recognition and trust to launch local initiatives.
The project will continue to offer technical support to town councils and associative fabric to enhance their capacities in promoting and sustaining citizen participation processes with a community focus. Transversal axes such as training and capacity building for public officials, technical staff, entities, and citizens, as well as the continuity of the Community Volunteer Network, are essential for consolidating sustained community participation over time.
This meeting marks a significant step in strengthening relationships among Fuerteventura's public administrations. The next working meeting is scheduled for the second half of September in Tuineje, where Community Nodes will be finalized and the training catalog planned until the end of 2026 will be completed, followed by subsequent meetings in various locations across the island.
