Bienvenidas a Belfast, Señoras

Belfast is being urged to give a warm welcome to two mature Spanish ladies - Señoras - who have arrived in Belfast as part of European exchange programme between Belfast and Madrid.

The senior citizens, Maria Josefina Diaz de Tuesta and Maria Angelina Garcia Alverez, (pictured) are the first of eight Spanish volunteers who will spend six weeks helping out at community projects across the city.

They will also have language classes to continue improving their English and to learn more about local culture.

Councillor Bernie Kelly, Chairperson of Belfast City Council's All Party Reference Group for Older People, is holding a welcome lunch for them at Belfast City Hall tomorrow and said: "We are delighted to see the first volunteers arriving and look forward to working with them.

"This is a chance for them to get to meet informally the people they will be working with and our own volunteers, the first of whom will be travelling to Madrid in May," said Councillor Kelly.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to emphasise how valuable the older generation can be to society and how much they can still learn.

"Angelina and Josefina have stepped out of their comfort zone and into a new world in Belfast but I am sure that everyone who meets them will make them feel welcome," she said,

"They have chosen to work with ethnic minorities and with children and young people, and those with disabilities and our staff and the other volunteers in these projects are looking forward to learning something from each other.

"Madrid has a great volunteering programme for people of all ages and can call on thousands when organising major events so we are already learning from each other in that respect."

Our own six volunteers will have a chance to chat with their Spanish equivalents and get an insight into life in Madrid ahead of their visit. They too are taking Spanish classes in preparation for their visits later this year.

Sonsoles de Juan, from Madrid's Foundation for Volunteers said: "We are looking forward to working with Belfast and have been impressed by the organisation and structures here.

"We work in similar ways to match volunteers to Non-Governmental Organisations and the exchange offers a rich learning experience for us all in building volunteers who are able to work globally," she added.

(BMcC/GK)