03 December 2003

Sevilla: Beginning 3 till 5 December, Seville will jointly mark the European Year of People with Disabilities and International Volunteer Day with a series of activities including round table discussions, theatrical productions and a photo exhibition launch.

On 3 December, three round table discussions (RTD) tackling disability issues and volunteerism will be conducted. Representatives from non-government organizations including Ceadis, Bienestar Social, and Consejo Municipal sobre Discapacidad will discuss social welfare disability issues on the first series of RTD.

The second RTD will tackle voluntary works with people with disabilities, organ donation and transplant issues, and laws on using sign language. Participants include representatives from the Medio Ambiente, Foundation TAS, Asociacion Alcer Giralda, Union de Consumidores de Sevilla, and Asociacion Cultural de Sordas de Sevilla.

On the third RTD, CAMF Secretary-General, D. Gonzalo Rivas Rubiales, will present a paper on the European Year of People with Disabilities while the Compromiso Solidario and Asociacion Discapacitados AURA will discuss volunteerism and disability courses. A photo exhibition with the theme "ICT Exhibition on Improving the Daily Life of Disabled and Older People" will be launched.

On 4 December, there will be a the seminar-workshop titled "Dynamics of Association- The Role of Volunteerism." As well, a tribute will be presented to outstanding Seville volunteers by Director Dña. Belen Torres Vela.

On IVD, a seminar-workshop titled "Coordination and work on prospective projects in the future" will be conducted. Participating non-government organizations include the Plataforma Voluntariado Social de Sevilla, Aula/Oficina del Voluntariado Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Oficina Voluntariado Universidad de Sevilla,Unión Romaní Andalucía, APICAVI, APRONI, ADIMA, Asociación de Voluntarios Amigos de Servicios Sociales, Liga Sevillana Educación y Cultura Popular, Alternativa Abierta, Geron, and the Centro para la Iniciativa del Voluntariado en Andalucía. After which, Dña. Aurora Atoche Navarro, Primera Teniente de Alcalde will present Seville’s agenda for social volunteerism for 2004.

In between the round table discussions, performing arts organizations including the Compañia de Teatro Universitario Aula de la Experiencia, Groupo del Teatro de MPDL, the Fundacion TAS and Teatro de Variedades will perform in live theatrical productions.