ES
The Andalusian Parliament held, on 18 March 2022, a very special children’s plenary session in which 106 schoolchildren became regional MPs for a day and presented their proposals to the chamber. At the event, organised by Aldeas Infantiles SOS, SEK International School Alborán represented schools and students from the province of Almería.
The project is framed within the educational scheme by Aldeas Infantiles SOS, which marks its 24th edition, and with which 32,300 Early Childhood and Primary students from 323 Andalusian schools work. Its objective is to reflect on the value of hope in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting the right to participation of boys and girls in society.
The plenary session was chaired by Marta Bosquet Aznar, president of the Andalusian Parliament, who was accompanied by the Regional Minister for Equality, Social Policies and Conciliation, Rocío Ruiz Domínguez, and the President of Aldeas Infantiles SOS España, Pedro Puig Pérez. At the opening ceremony, they all addressed the young parliamentarians with warm words on the importance of maintaining hope in achieving three Sustainable Development Goals: Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Partnerships to achieve the goals (SDG 17).
The presentation by the students at SEK International School Alborán, representing the schools and students of the province of Almería, highlighted the strength that comes from all working together for a common goal: “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” The defence of the presentation was made by Elia Fernández Chicharro and Ana Salmerón Suárez, from year 6 Primary, who acted as spokespersons and who were accompanied by José Manuel Fernández Salmerón; Sofía Góngora Bernáldez; Ariadna Fernández Chiroiu; Ana Salmerón Suárez; Lucía Sánchez López; José Luis Suárez Albarral; Emma Berrio Páez; Ignacio Camarero Ibáñez; Clara Megías Rubio; Álvaro Callejón Molina; Irene Lavilla Martí, and Sandra López Manzano.
Following the speeches, the eight Andalusian spokespersons, one for each province, presented 16 commitments and voting time was opened. All the child parliamentarians voted for their favourite proposal and committed to it. The most voted was: “Valuing the work of our farmers, respecting our olive grove, consuming our oil, enjoying it and appreciating the work that goes into it”.
Secondly, the boys and girls decided to “raise awareness among our peers about the importance, necessity and universality of vaccines, always keeping hope alive, even in these times of pandemic that we are suffering”. As a third option, they chose the commitment to “promoting healthy eating habits for our development and to prevent the appearance of different diseases”.
In 2015, 193 countries approved 17 goals and 169 associated objectives that set the global development framework for the next 15 years in the social, economic and environmental spheres. Aldeas Infantiles SOS actively participated in the process of drawing up the 2030 Agenda.
Aldeas Infantiles SOS has been present in Spain since 1967. It is part of an International Federation founded in 1949 in Austria, with a presence in 137 countries (SOS Children’s Villages). In 2016 it was awarded the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord.
