Constanza Sanchez
The mayor of Logroño, Conrado Escobar, along with several members of the municipal Corporation, received this morning the 24 Sahrawi children participating in the ‘Holidays in Peace’ program, as well as the families hosting them this summer in La Rioja.
Escobar wanted to give them special attention and convey the affection of the city of Logroño, with a special thank you to the families hosting these minors, «because without you this would not be possible, your dedication and commitment serve to improve the lives of many.»
The 12 boys and 12 girls, aged between 6 and 14, participating in this edition stay for two months in Logroño and other locations in La Rioja, hosted in the homes of volunteer families.
In the case of the eight children with disabilities, they stay in an apartment adapted to their needs along with four Sahrawi monitors and engage in various activities at ASPACE Rioja.
The mayor emphasized that «this program allows these 24 children to have a summer in peace, joy, and fun, but also helps to strengthen ties and reinforce that network of solidarity, hospitality, and aid that are the hallmarks of Logroño and all of La Rioja.»
«SOLIDARITY IN CAPITAL LETTERS»
Escobar also advocated for «solidarity in capital letters and the humanitarian work to which this City Council has been faithful for more than thirty years.»
In that sense, he acknowledged and thanked «the important task of the families that make it possible and host the children for two months that will be etched in everyone’s memory.»
Also present at the event were several members of the municipal Corporation, the delegate of the Sahrawi people in La Rioja, Mohamed Labat, and the president of the Association of Friends of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, José Tomás. ‘Holidays in Peace’ since 1993 The ‘Holidays in Peace’ program, developed by the Association of Friends of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the Logroño City Council since 1993, aims to provide Sahrawi children with a summer vacation in Logroño and other locations in La Rioja, away from the harsh living conditions in the refugee camps in Tinduf (Algeria).
This program has a marked humanitarian character, due to the extreme hardships faced in the refugee camps with various deficiencies (food, healthcare, water supply, etc.). Beyond enjoying vacations, the most important aspect is providing specialized healthcare, with medical check-ups aimed at addressing ear and vision-related conditions they suffer from.
The activities are funded through a collaboration agreement signed between the City Council and the Riojan Association of Friends of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD) amounting to 29,000 euros. Additionally, the Autonomous Community of La Rioja contributes 20,000 euros to this project.
