The cooperative work between third sector entities and public administrations in rural areas is essential to guarantee the fulfilment of the rights of the most disadvantaged groups, such as young people and people with disabilities, as demonstrated by a Focus Group held this Wednesday at the Baroque Interpretation Centre in Fuentes de Andalucía (Seville).
The Focus Group is part of the conference ‘Training the professionalism of rural corporations in the field of disability’, organised by the City Council of this municipality and the Provincial Federation of Associations of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities of Seville (COCEMFE Seville). The conclusions of the Focus Group participants from the town councils of El Rubio and La Puebla de Cazalla were that motivation and empathy are two fundamental skills for actively listening to the needs presented by young people, as well as the need to identify activities that allow this group to learn to regulate their emotions and help them feel useful, reinforcing their self-esteem and providing them with tools to solve their daily problems.
In addition, during the conference, the European project E-YOUTH, co-financed by the European Union, was presented, as well as the programme ‘Awareness, Social Participation and Promotion of Associations’, co-financed by the Provincial Council of Seville. The programme ‘Rurality, Equal Opportunities’, which aims to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the rural environment, encouraging their participation, bringing resources closer, expanding the culture of associationism and solidarity, was also presented.
Key aspects on disability awareness and mapping of intersectoral skills and competences of workers in rural local corporations have also been addressed.
The experts in charge of addressing the different contents presented were the head of the Social Department of COCEMFE Seville, Marina Hidalgo; the technical staff of European projects of the entity, Encarnación Barrera and Álvaro Walls; and the head of the Department of Leisure, Free Time and Volunteering, Emilio Tortosa.
The presentation ceremony was attended by the Deputy for Social Cohesion and Equality of the Seville Provincial Council, Rocío Sutil; the Mayor of Fuentes de Andalucía, Francisco Javier Martínez; and the President of the Federation, Juan José Lara.
Also present were representatives of the member organisations of the Frater San Pablo Federation, SIVA and ADOYP, as well as the Red Cross of Lora del Río and Fuentes de Andalucía, and the DIVERZA Centre of Fuentes de Andalucía.
Header photo: RTVFuentes