Together we can build a more inclusive and supportive society. For this reason, once again this year, Torrejón de Ardoz has celebrated Functional Diversity and Volunteering Week with a varied program of activities aimed at promoting community participation and strengthening ties between the city’s residents.
The initiative, organized by the City Council and the associations that make up the Municipal Functional Diversity Table, has had great support from the Torrejoneros with significant and reflective events, highlighting the Inclusive Sports day, “Deportodos Se Mueve”, in Soto Henares, the day focused on families with autistic members, Embrace the Smile, the Functional Diversity and Volunteering Week Gala, the Short Film Festival Inclusive, Ventea Al Cine, the lighting of the Volunteer Tree, the II ASTOR-INLADE Solidarity Awards “Accompanying people, building the future” or the Diversity Awareness and Information Point that will be on December 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. hours in the Leisure Park.
One of the activities worth highlighting was the Deportodos Se Mueve event, which brought together numerous residents who had the opportunity to participate in this initiative, organized by the Functional Diversity Table of Torrejón de Ardoz and the Department of Wellbeing, through which They were able to experience different adapted sports, such as handbikes, chair basketball, sitting badminton, archery or sitting volleyball.
Another of the highlights came with the Lighting of the Volunteer Tree and the Associative Tables, a very special event, which included a series of craft workshops, solidarity coffee, board games and a dance show. The tree had the volunteer’s wish box, where Torrejoneros could express their wishes and suggestions to improve the community.
Likewise, the event focused on families with autistic members, “Embrace the Smile”, transformed the city into the world epicenter of neurodiversity, achieving a strong impact on social networks and with the participation of Mabel Katz, the greatest figure in Spanish. Spanish Ho’oponopono who provided practical advice to reduce anxiety and increase well-being in families with autistic people and Dr. Abraham Buitrago, prominent pedagogue and author of the exclusive method for neurodiversity by which He has been awarded a Cum Laude doctorate.
Likewise, the Functional Diversity and Volunteering Week Gala was held, an emotional event, where members of local associations and some volunteers showed their talent in a unique and moving presentation. It featured theater, musical and dance performances in which the AFTA Dance Group, Patricia Muñoz Dance School Group, ASTOR Club Theater Group and Concejalía Mayores Dance Group participated. In addition, Fuensanta Meléndez was awarded for a life dedicated to helping others.
Also highlight the II ASTOR-INLADE Solidarity Awards “Accompanying people, building the future”, a very special day to recognize the people and entities that are committed to the social and labor inclusion of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and which included with the performances of the groups, “We have the word”, “Woman’s voices” and “Rompan ranks”, which gave value to inclusion. In addition, a calendar was presented in which people from the Occupational Center were the protagonists of film covers in the history of cinema.
In addition, the Inclusive Shorts Festival, Ventea Al Cine, was very well received and attendees were able to enjoy a unique inclusive experience with several shorts in which the children’s audience was the jury, voting for their favorite short. There was a gift raffle among the audience and the screenings were sensorially adapted for families with ASD children, with advance material and open to the general public.
A mural has been hung on the façade of the Town Hall with the motto “Torrejón Diverse” woven in crochet stitch, which has been made within the “El Corrillo del Ovillo” activity, by people with psychological functional diversity from the CRPS, managed by Grupo 5, aimed at people with serious and long-lasting mental illness.
In addition, the installation of an information table by the Mírame Association in the Plaza Mayor, to give visibility to the problems of people with functional diversity in their daily lives, the inclusive education activities “Especially Different People” in the educational centers of children and primary school (CEIP) of Torrejón through performances that have discussed inclusion, disability and other topics such as bullying and “What is mine is not normal”, a conference-colloquium by the Pegasus Foundation to normalize difference through leisure, he sport and culture or the Diversity Awareness and Information Point that will be on December 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Leisure Park, among other initiatives, have completed the wide and varied programming.
“I want to thank all the collaborating entities that make up the municipal functional diversity table for their work and collaboration this week, as well as the great support of the numerous neighbors who have participated in some of the activities scheduled in this celebration of diversity. and solidarity. Together, we can build a more inclusive and supportive community, where each individual feels valued and respected for their uniqueness and contribution,” highlighted the mayor, Alejandro Navarro.
