Sources from the Department of Social Welfare report that the Municipal Music School will host a commemorative event on Wednesday, January 31, at 11:00 a.m., marking the fifteen years of hard work for senior citizens at the "la Caixa" Banking Foundation in Cieza, in collaboration with the Department of Senior Citizens.
Since 2002, when Pepa Pastor, Councilor for Senior Citizens, initiated initial contact with Obra Social 'la Caixa,' numerous projects have been developed in the municipality thanks to the successive collaboration agreements signed annually by both organizations, with the primary objective of improving the quality of life of our seniors.
More than five thousand senior citizens in Cieza have benefited from the various projects developed year after year in the town, such as "Knowing How to Grow Older," "Active Seniors," "People 3.0," and so on. All of these projects have offered seniors a space to engage in activities tailored to their needs and interests. A place to participate, maintain an active role in society, and dispel negative stereotypes about old age. These projects have included workshops, conferences, discussions, and all kinds of activities designed to contribute to further improving the quality of life of retired people.
In 2003, thanks to Obra Social 'la Caixa' ('la Caixa' Foundation), the first cyber classroom for seniors was installed in the municipality, equipped with all the necessary equipment adapted to these individuals, thus facilitating their access to the world of new technologies. To this end, a wide range of computer workshops were offered, which, year after year, have been expanded in both length and content, and are constantly being updated to keep up to date. In 2008, with the opening of the 'Las Morericas' Municipal Center for Seniors, this classroom moved to the new facility, being completely renovated and equipped with the latest advances in new technologies.
All of this has allowed nearly a thousand older adults to have the opportunity to explore and learn about the world of new technologies and social media over the years, effectively enabling this group to be actively included in society.
Nearly 150 socio-educational workshops have also been offered as part of the various annual projects; diverse workshops such as "Better Readers," "Activate the Mind," "Pain+Life," "Get Active," "Wake Up with a Smile," "Nourish Your Well-Being," "Get Fit," etc., thus preventing the deterioration of functional autonomy and the onset of dependency.
The aforementioned sources also mention the important work carried out within these same agreements to promote volunteering among seniors. Volunteering was almost nonexistent a few years ago, but day by day it has grown and become a part of the senior citizen community, developing a wide range of very important projects of various types and with various disadvantaged groups in the municipality.