The area of Citizen Participation of the Mijas Town Hall reported last week on the use of the more than 63,000 euros of subsidies it has allocated to various groups from Mijas, all of which have been declared of Municipal Public Utility. Among the 17 groups there are flamenco peñas, such as El Gallo and La Unión del Cante, which have received, respectively, 3,478.60 euros and 4,156.35 euros to continue the work they do to promote flamenco. 

The aid, they say, has been earmarked, among other things, for the organisation of events, workshops and to improve their headquarters. "All the subsidy goes to the preservation and promotion of flamenco", explained Mari Ángeles Martín, social media manager of the peña El Gallo, who added that “it is true that it is impossible to go ahead with the members alone, it is a wonderful help that we have from the Town Hall and we are very grateful”. For his part, Paco Lavado, treasurer of the Peña Flamenca Unión del Cante, said that he had used the money "to remodel the stage inside, which was already quite deteriorated, and we have prepared it, above all, for the dancing, so that it sounds good. We have also imporve the appearance of the stage outside, on the terrace, and we have decorated it. Some other things have been done, but that's the most important thing, because the material is expensive and it has been done to make flamenco sound good". 

Organisation of events and workshops 

Another of the beneficiary groups has been the Coro Polifónico Villa de Mijas (3,294.08 euros), "we have dedicated this grant to pay for the musical director we have, to pay for some instruments and clothing", said the treasurer of the choir, José Luis Martínez, who added that "with this aid we can even reduce the fee, because there are people who do not join because the fee is a high and people back out, but this grant is great for us so we can increase the number of members of the choir. 

The local brotherhoods and parish associations have also been able to count on this municipal aid to carry out improvements and, among other things, processions. Joaquín Marín, secretary of the Brotherhood of Cristo de la Paz (4,824.38 euros), said that "we use this grant for the flowers and the music band, if it weren't for the help of the Town Hall we wouldn't be able to do much, because the membership fee alone is not enough".  "We have used it for the clothing of the bearers, as the brotherhood did not have its own medals and we have bought them. Also another part has been used to the embellishment of pennants for the day of Santa Teresa, patron saint of La Cala and little else, the truth is that in these little things we have spent it", said Belén Guerra, president of the Santa Teresa Parish Association, who also said that this grant “is very important to move forward”. 

Purchase of equipment 

The purchase of equipment and materials is another of the purposes for which these grants have been used. "We have bought 60 40x50 frames, which we didn't own, and then we have bought some large tables, which we use the events and meetings", said Javier Tamayo, treasurer of Nuevo Enfoque Mijas (1,406.03 euros), who acknowledged that “without the support of the Town Hall it would be impossible”. Pedro Ortega, president of the Sociocultural Association Cinemijas (5,000 euros), said that "this year we have finally been able to buy an ENG camera and several sets of professional spotlights, which are essential for the technical quality of the projects so that they can participate in top-level festivals and be sent to television stations and streaming platforms".

Other groups, such as animal welfare groups, use it for different services. "We have spent it on veterinary expenses for the castration of the cats", explained Manuela Bernardo, secretary of Mijas Felina, an association that has received 5,000 euros. 

Neighbourhood groups are an essential part of the associative network of the town. Among the list of beneficiaries of these grants is the neighbourhood association La Loma de Mijas (683.24 euros), which has earmarked the aid "for the organisation of the May Cross and a day of coexistence with the neighbours", explained the association's president, Manuel Santana, who also stated that "if we depended only on the money paid by the members, we wouldn't be able organise anything, and thanks to the help we receive from the Town Hall we can organise quite a few things. Above all, so that the neighbours can get together and spend time together. The truth is that it's good and important". 

From the area of Citizen Participation they remember that the aim of these grants "is to provide support from the local government to associations that carry out projects for the Mijeños and encourage the development of associations to defend the general and sectoral interests of the neighbours. 

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