Ruyman Afonso Higuera, born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1975, is a prominent figure in social education. His approach focuses on the school and neighborhood community, working as a sociocultural animator and mediator. For over a decade, he has continuously collaborated in educational centers and dedicated almost twenty years to community processes throughout the island of Tenerife.
For Afonso, his profession is more than just a job; it's a way of understanding the world, rooted in his deep connections to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the island's interior. His personal and professional journey has been built on the constant idea of accompanying people. Son of Hermógenes, known as Hupalupa, a researcher and nationalist politician, and María Amparo, Ruyman acknowledges himself as an heir to both. From his father, a public figure in Santa Cruz, he carries an inevitable imprint, while from his mother, he values the capacity for mediation and conciliation.
His experience has primarily developed in the metropolitan area of Tenerife, although he has also worked in the south. This journey allows him to analyze the social inequalities on the island, observing how the reliance on tourism and precarious working conditions in the south affect many families, limiting quality time with their children. Afonso emphasizes that it is not about negligence, but survival, where families are often trapped in economic structures that impact childhood and emotional stability.
“"The problem is not just economic poverty, but also a lack of horizons. Breaking out of that cycle is one of the great social challenges for the Canary Islands."
His work extends beyond the classroom, with a strong community dimension. In centers like Betancourt y Molina, in Barranco Grande, his day begins by assessing the pulse of the day with teachers and staff, combining planning with the ability to respond to the unexpected. He promotes projects like Birmagen or Tenique, which seek to rebuild meeting spaces between families, children, and the community, strengthening bonds and opening opportunities for real participation. He also highlights initiatives such as that of CEIP Isaac de Vega, in San Isidro, where music has integrated students from diverse cultural backgrounds, and the upcoming recovery of the Barranco Grande festival on May 15 as a way to rebuild community.
Afonso advocates for schools as spaces for connection, community, and social prevention. When faced with conflict, his stance is one of understanding and accompaniment, not imposition. In a world dominated by speed and social media, he adapts to new codes without abandoning the essence of his work: listening, accompanying, and offering guidance. His professional and human profiles are inseparable, driven by the conviction to build community in Tenerife and the Canary Islands so that children grow up supported and schools become a fundamental pillar.
