Every 15th of May, the International Day of Families is commemorated, and the Mijas Town Hall is going to celebrate it in style. A full calendar of activities aimed at families has been organised, which will take place in the three main areas of the municipality. “The family is the fundamental pillar of Spanish society, which we must preserve so that it has all the services it deserves, because providing for a family is difficult; that is why both the Department of Social Inclusion and the other departments are at the disposal of the families in Mijas”, said the mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP), during the presentation of the programme on Monday 12th.

The planned activities kicked off on Thursday 15th, International Day of Families, with the reading of a manifesto at an event attended by students from the CEIP San Sebastián school. “The family is the union of people who love each other, feel comfortable together and give each other love and affection; they are also people who protect, care for and respect each other”, “a family is very important; it can help you make decisions” and “the family teaches us that love is the foundation of everything and that together, as a team, we can overcome any obstacle”, were some of the phrases read by Candela, Ángel and Marwa, sixth-year students at CEIP San Sebastián.

After reading the texts written by the children, the mayoress of Mijas read a manifesto from the Town Hall in which she highlighted the importance of the family. “Mijas wants to keep families in mind in all actions carried out by the Town Hall. In fact, we will soon be publishing the call for applications already announced in the budget: birth grants. We want to support families so that they are not alone and know they can rely on a team of professionals within the Town Hall”, added the mayoress and councillor for Family and Equal Opportunities.“Do you know who my family is, apart from my mother, my husband and my kids? My family is also the municipality of Mijas”, said Mata, addressing the 4th year students from the San Sebastián School. The mayoress also invited all neighbours to participate in the programme of events designed by the Family and Equal Opportunities Department to commemorate this occasion.

This meeting, which took place in the Hermanos Núñez Andreu Square, next to the Tourist Office in Mijas Pueblo, marked the start of the programme designed to commemorate this event. It was a day that highlighted the value of the family in all its diversity and plurality. Whether they are the traditionally conventional two-parent families, formed by father, mother and children, or single-parent, same-sex parent, divorced parents, adoptive, foster families, childless parents, families with or without pets, they all agree that they must be united by love and respect. Furthermore, “it is very important that we highlight the role of families, different families in their plurality and diversity, but that we recognise this fundamental pillar of society”, said the mayoress. The event was attended by the councillors for Social Inclusion and Education, Mari Francis Alarcón (PP) and Juan José Torres Trella (PP), officials from both departments, as well as representatives from the Family and Equal Opportunities department and neighbours.

My family, my home

In addition to reading texts they had written themselves, the schoolchildren took part in this commemoration with drawings they had made in class, in which they explained how they see their families. These drawings were used to create the mural ‘My family, my home’. “It’s very important, because they are always there for you, they look after you, protect you, and always love you”, explained Alba Madrid, a 4th year student; her classmate, Anais Moreno, added that “for me, family is very important because they look after us, put up with us, protect us and love us very much”. The mayoress, for her part, recalled that the Town Hall has its own Family Department, “from which we will organise special activities, but also work throughout the year on specific actions to help all the families that make up the great family of Mijas”.

More activities

On Saturday 17th, at 10:00 hours, a road safety workshop will take place at the Road Safety Park in Las Lagunas. At the same time, María Zambrano Park will host the 'Healthy Family' event, featuring conscious physical activity for all ages. A little later, at 10:30 hours, there will be two options: at the Torreón de La Cala, the UP professor Rosa Martín will lead a tai chi session for families, while the 'Family Challenge' scavenger hunt will set off from the Town Hall Square in Mijas Pueblo.

Also on Saturday 17th, at 19:30 hours, the Parque Andalucía will be transformed into a mini Eurovision stadium. As part of the celebrations for the Interntaional Day of Families, the event ‘Mijas with Eurovision’ will include a giant screen, live music, a bar, and many more surprises to support Spain’s representative, and Mijas neighbour, Melody.

 

On Sunday 18th at 10:00 hours, a hiking trip along the Fuengirola-Gomenaro river trail will depart from Avenida de Andalucía, opposite the La Vega industrial estate. At the same time, in the Plaza Virgen de la Peña in Mijas Pueblo, there will be a ‘Sport in the Street’ session featuring flamenco fitness and Zumba. At the Torreón de La Cala, at 10:30 hours, there will be a family yoga session with instructor Beatriz Mariscal, followed at 12:00 hours by a 'Family Survival Skills' workshop led by Lucas Bushcraft. 

 

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