The president of the Provincial Council of Granada, Francis Rodríguez, accepted the award presented by the Ministry of Justice, Local Administration and Public Function. This recognition highlights the province's dedication to implementing a model that ensures residents remain in their towns, preventing rural depopulation.
“"It is an honor to receive this award here in Córdoba on behalf of the Provincial Council of Granada, as a province that is committed to implementing a model that allows people to continue living in their villages, ensuring that villages do not become empty."
Rodríguez also emphasized the collaboration with María Vera, delegated deputy and mayor of Torre Cardela, in developing successful initiatives. He mentioned programs such as the Baby Check, My Challenge – which assists seniors in rural pharmacies – and various educational and training actions, all aimed at improving the quality of life in Granada's municipalities.
The implementation of these programs has been ongoing for three years, and the president extended congratulations to the municipalities of Granada, noting that the province has 71 municipalities with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, many of them far from the capital. He stressed that joint work with the Provincial Council has been key to the success of these policies and to encouraging people to stay in their villages.
For his part, José Antonio Nieto, Minister of Justice, Local Administration and Public Function, highlighted the importance of the demographic challenge as a crucial issue for achieving territorial balance and equal opportunities. He stated that being born in a small municipality should not only not limit anyone's life project, but should enhance it even further.
The award ceremony for this first edition took place at the Provincial Conservatory Músico de Ziryab in Córdoba. 37 candidacies were submitted, from which the jury selected seven. Among the awardees, in addition to the Granada Demographic Challenge Office, were 'Málaga No Caduca' from the Provincial Council of Málaga, the Aurora Camacho Lozano Public Foundation of Carcabuey (Córdoba), Joaquín Jurado Chacón from the Espiel Town Council (Córdoba), the suicide prevention program in Armilla (Granada), the Nexur Technology Cluster of Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), and the Andalusian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FAMP).
In the case of Armilla, council members Francisca Fernández and Pablo Arturo Cano received the award for their suicide prevention program. Minister Nieto praised this initiative, emphasizing its sensitivity, coordination, and shared responsibility in addressing such a delicate social challenge, and congratulated the municipal officials for building a network of professionals and community resources that act quickly.
