Carmen Díaz, Director General of Culture and Education, highlighted that the initiative—spearheaded by the ‘Desde Siempre y Para Siempre’ (Always and Forever) Foundation—will take place at the Adolfo Suárez Congress Centre. It aims to promote principles such as empathy, solidarity, and respect through experiences that actively involve adolescents.
On Wednesday, November 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the City Council will host the 2nd ‘Educating in Values’ Congress. This initiative will bring together 1,200 secondary and high school students at the Adolfo Suárez Congress Centre, with the goal of fostering humanistic values—such as kindness, solidarity, empathy, and respect—among the youth. Organized by the ‘Desde Siempre y Para Siempre’ Foundation in collaboration with the City Council, the event will feature stories of overcoming adversity, music, art, emotional education, and interactive activities. These elements are designed to provide adolescents with tools to help them navigate challenges and engage positively in their daily lives. Carmen Díaz, Director General of Culture and Education in Marbella, highlighted that this gathering “aims to promote, disseminate, and support those who hold humanistic ideals—individuals who often feel alone in their inner goodness and may not know how to defend it.”
Díaz noted that the first edition received “an extraordinary response from the students” and praised the work of María Ángeles Martos, president of the foundation, whose efforts “stemmed from a personal experience of loss and resilience, which she has transformed into a path filled with light.” She also emphasized the importance of helping young people understand that difficulties are a natural part of life, and of equipping them with the tools to face these challenges without falling into frustration or negative emotions.
For her part, Martos thanked the local government for its collaboration in bringing this initiative to the adolescents of Marbella. She explained that the movement began in 2019, following the 2015 passing of her son, Antonio, who died from biphenotypic leukemia. Before he passed away, he left a letter asking her to continue helping others, signing off with the words “From always and forever” (*Desde siempre y para siempre*)—a phrase that became the project’s name. The president noted that the initiative “has grown into a foundation that now reaches more than 25,000 adolescents each year.” Its methodology is rooted in actively listening to young people—through surveys and preliminary meetings at schools—to understand their concerns and incorporate their ideas into the content of each conference. “Our intention is to carry out our work—an educational approach with them and for them,” she stated, adding that the goal is for “participants to walk away with a ‘toolbox’ that allows them to integrate what they have learned into their own lives.”
Furthermore, she pointed out that solidarity will once again play a significant role in this second edition, announcing that the students themselves have chosen to collaborate with the organization Global Gift, to which they will donate school supplies intended for… …minors to whom it provides support. Martos noted that the program will feature the participation of José Peña—considered the only blind boxer in Spain—who will share his story of overcoming adversity through an interactive experience; music teacher Antonio Domingo, who will lead a participatory initiative designed to introduce students to music education; and professionals Laura Aguirre (a psychologist) and Marina Joséndez (a sexologist), who will address topics related to sex education and violence prevention. Additionally, singer Luis Muñoz and painter Eva Vega will take part. “As part of this collective experience, the students will create a joint artistic work, which will be presented to the Marbella City Council,” he highlighted. Finally, Juan José Cuevas, a speaker and entrepreneur in the technology sector, explained that his contribution will focus on the responsible use of technology and the application of values within digital environments. The goal is to provide attendees with the resources to navigate this sphere “with respect and responsibility, helping them build a better life and contribute to the creation of a more humane society.”
