Cabildo y ULL fomentan la participación comunitaria en Fuerteventura con ‘Fuerteventura Protagonista’

The initiative aims to contribute to the integral development of Fuerteventura by strengthening social coexistence and cohesion.

The Island Council, through the Department of Social Action, Diversity, LGTBIQ +, Citizen Participation, and Open Government, led by Víctor Alonso, has launched ‘Fuerteventura Protagonist’, a citizen participation project with a community approach for the integral development of the Island, in collaboration with the University of La Laguna through its General Foundation.

The initiative aims to promote community participation on the Island, driving transformative participation processes at the local level, aligned with the Canary Islands Sustainable Development Agenda and taking into account the key elements of Fuerteventura’s demographic challenge.

All these processes will have a concrete impact on community mobilization and organization, involving the different stakeholders on the island: municipalities, citizens, the third sector, business sector, technical sphere, etc.

The first working meetings have already started with the municipalities of Antigua, Betancuria, La Oliva, Tuineje, Pájara, and Puerto del Rosario, which have shown interest and willingness to participate in the project through the areas of citizen participation.

During the project presentation, the island president, Lola García, detailed that «Fuerteventura has undergone a significant process of population growth and diversification in recent decades, posing evident challenges in the areas of inclusion, cohesion, and social coexistence.» «Therefore, participation represents a collective horizon and, at the same time, an essential tool to achieve the best framework of progress for all individuals.»

On his part, the Councilor for Citizen Participation, Víctor Alonso, explained that «the people of Fuerteventura must increasingly be protagonists in defining their collective life project, actively participating in all processes that channel their demands and aspirations. This will facilitate social involvement at all levels.»

Vicente Zapata, a professor at ULL and project director, stated «that this initiative presents a great opportunity to continue strengthening our University’s relationship with the different island realities in the Canary Islands, alongside its institutions and the regional society.» «We aim to provide valuable elements so that participation in its various forms becomes a factor of progress for Fuerteventura, through listening, training, and promoting community processes.»

The project presentation was attended by councilors from the six municipalities, other government and opposition councilors, as well as a wide representation of the island’s associative fabric.

The project will follow different lines of work, such as social listening for defining an action plan on participation, training with an emphasis on community methodologies, and promoting local community development processes with the involvement of all local authorities.

Interested individuals can find all the information and participate in the project through the website