The Provincial Council of Almeria has celebrated the International Day of Families, which is commemorated every 15 May, with the family interventionist and presenter, Pedro García Aguado, who has given the conference ‘The challenge of educating today’, in the Patio de Luces of the institution. The event was attended by representatives of the Provincial Family Council and more than 120 students in the third year of ESO from La Salle and IES Maestro Padilla.
The President of the Provincial Council of Almeria, Javier A. García, accompanied by the Deputy for Equality and Family, Carmen Belén López, welcomed Pedro García Aguado and thanked him for his presence in “the heart of the province” with the aim of analysing and reflecting on such important issues for the well-being of society as a whole and, in particular, families, such as education, motivation and prevention.
In this sense, Javier A. García, stressed that “there is no more basic, firm and important pillar than the family, to which we always turn when we have any kind of problem or there is something to celebrate. The family is always there, it adapts to new times, but its role as the backbone of all of us is still as fundamental as it was on the first day”.
Furthermore, the president highlighted the career of Pedro García Aguado, whose life “is full of chapters that he has transformed into reflections that he is going to share with all of us today. These teachings that Pedro shares in his lectures are based on profoundly human values and we must take the opportunity to learn from him”.
Finally, Javier A. García reviewed the sporting and professional achievements of Pedro García Aguado who, among many other titles, as a top-level water polo player has been Olympic champion and world champion, in addition to his work on television with programmes such as ‘Hermano mayor’ and, in recent years, as a family interventionist and lecturer on issues of coexistence, education or drug addiction and addictions.
For his part, Pedro García Aguado gave an entertaining and dynamic presentation, based on his own personal story in order to empathise with young people. One of the chapters that marked his adolescence was his parents’ divorce and his success as a budding water polo player, which led him to move to Barcelona at the age of 17.
At this point, he stated that sport taught him to channel frustration and explained that the perception of success and failure is divided by a fine line, as a result of the silver medal won by the Spanish water polo team in Barcelona 92, which for them was a success but which, for many sectors, was interpreted as a failure.
He then opened the chapter on new technologies, with the prominence of social networks as a risk element in school bullying and the importance of parents being connected so that they know and understand the functioning and conflicts of these technologies. Concepts such as digital identity and online reputation were also analysed by García Aguado.
Finally, Pedro García Aguado encouraged young people to overcome the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives with “effort, boldness, talent, perseverance and conquering fear” and, for parents, with the same recipe to promote their children’s abilities and not to forget something very important: “You have to love the child you have, not the one you would like to have. The important thing is that you are able to react to adversity”.
Activities, municipalities and dates
Family circus workshop: This is an activity in which participating families (adults and children) will learn circus techniques such as acrobatics, balancing acts and aerial dances. Registration at the Town Hall.
Pulpí, 20th May
Bayarque, 21st May
Uleila del Campo, 22 May
Santa Fe de Mondújar, 27 May
Albox, 4 June
Discovering our historical footprints: Registration required by e-mail actividadesenfamilia@dipalme.org. Aimed at families.
Archaeological Museum of Almeria, 5 p.m. 27 May
Baria, 11 a.m. 21 May and 11 June.
Adra Museum, 10:30h. 4 June
Discovering our cultural footprints: Registration required by email actividadesenfamilia@dipalme.org. Aimed at families.
Casa del Cine (Almería): 11:30 a.m. 28 May
Archaeological Museum (Benahadux): 12:00 p.m. 29 May
Velezano Museum (Vélez Rubio): 11:30 a.m. 5th June.
X Positive Parenting Day : 18 May. From 9 am to 2 pm in the auditorium of the Uned (Plaza de la Administración Vieja, 4). There will be 5 presentations that will deal with content related to mental health in childhood and adolescence and the promotion of parenting skills and tools.
Multi-adventure in the Menas de Serón. 22nd May. Multi-adventure activities (zip-line, archery, cave visit) for families. At 10 am. Prior registration required. Prior registration required by e-mail actividadesenfamilia@dipalme.org. Aimed at families.