Social Welfare promotes cooperation projects in developing countries with 15,000 euros

Benidorm City Council will allocate a sum of 15,000 euros to support the implementation of international cooperation projects in developing countries that have been carried out over the last year. The Local Government Board (JGL) has approved the basis of this call for subsidies, which local non-profit entities that have this line of work as their objective can apply for.

The Councillor for Social Welfare, Ángela Zaragozí, explained that through these grants “we reaffirm our commitment and our collaboration with local entities that carry out solidarity actions to facilitate the living conditions of the population of developing countries”.

Specifically, this line of aid will have as possible beneficiaries local non-profit entities and associations that carry out activities related to the fight against poverty; the promotion and protection of the elderly, children and the family; as well as the promotion and defence of human rights, and that have developed their projects in the last year. 90% of the cost of the projects will be financed, up to a maximum of 3,000 euros.

Among the expenses that can be subsidised using these grants are the purchase of surgical and medical equipment, machinery and construction materials and the costs of transporting them, as well as native labour, in the case of infrastructure construction; the maintenance of homes, centres or institutions for the shelter of women, children and the elderly; as well as the travel of minors from impoverished countries or countries in armed conflict to spend temporary stays in Benidorm. Likewise, the rules establish that travel and maintenance of volunteer staff will not be considered eligible expenses, nor will any expenses that are not directly related to the subsidised project.

Among the requirements to obtain the grants, the rules state that the applicant entities must be registered in the Registry of Associations of Benidorm City Council; have a stable and active social headquarters or branch in the municipality; not be involved in any of the circumstances that prevent obtaining the status of a beneficiary of public subsidies; have sufficient structure to carry out the activities contemplated in this initiative; be up to date with tax obligations and with Social Security and Benidorm City Council; have justified any subsidy granted by the Council during the 2023 year; and, finally, have civil liability insurance and, where appropriate, volunteer insurance if it has people who carry out this type of activity.

The Councilor for Social Welfare explained that the deadline for applying for subsidies opened last Friday, after their publication in the Official Gazette of the Province, and that, from that date, there are 15 calendar days to do so. Afterwards, it will be a technical commission designed by the City Council, which will resolve the call based on the established evaluation criteria governed by the principles of publicity, transparency, competition, objectivity, equality and non-discrimination.

Aid to address the digital divide
The Councillor for Social Welfare also reported that last Friday the application period for the new line of aid launched by the Benidorm City Council to support the work carried out by associations or non-profit entities based in the city to contribute to the elimination of the digital divide between migrants, which is endowed with a total amount of 6,000 euros, also opened. This period will end after 15 calendar days. The application form and the rest of the documentation required to qualify for the aid must be submitted online to Benidorm City Council website.