Guardia Civil create a calendar for charity

THE GUARDIA Civil are not only a crime fighting organisation, it seems they can be of great benefit to charitable causes too. Recently the force got together with a Down Syndrome charity on ‘World Down Syndrome Day’ which coincided with ‘International Forest Day’ for a charitable event held in Faunia, Madrid. Over 21,000 copies of the force’s new calendar were sold at the event with the aim of raising as much money for the charity as possible.

The foundation has been able to assist 75 children aged between six and 18 to help them receive numerous training courses including cognitive training, communication, language training, development of learning, autonomy and personal development. The training programmes are intended to enrich the lives of children and young people with Down Syndrome and enhance their capacities for learning, but also deal with their limitations. 

At the event, as it was also International Forest Day, children with Down Syndrome had the opportunity to participate in a children’s ecology workshop to learn about different native species of plants, gardening tips and long term care of the forest.  

The event also featured informative classes on animal welfare and conservation with an enrichment activity centre featuring small animals such as meerkats.  

The calendar was created in late 2015 by the Director General of the Guardia Civil, Arsenio Fernandez de Mesa. Each month features a picture with several children from the Down Syndrome Foundation of Madrid as they are accompanied by members of different specialist units of the Guardia Civil such as the Traffic Department, the dog service, Explosives Deactivation, Air Service, Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA), Maritime Service and many others.

To purchase a calendar please contact the Press Office of the Guardia Civil, or call 915 146 010.