5th United Nationalities of Marbella Summit

We did it!! Last week I celebrated my 5th United Nationalities of Marbella Summit. It has become quite the event even if I say so myself, with an increasing number of influential community members gathering each year to coordinate our efforts.

Receiving so many people to radio and TV as I have makes it a unique position to see from a different vantage point where we all fit together. At the end of each year, I like to “Sum It up” in my summit! Of course, none of this would be possible without my headline sponsor for the past four years Linea Directa.

Not only do they change and add policies in response to feedback from our annual events to better cater to our needs, they truly support our community effort and have also got their Road Traffic Safety Foundation involved in our Zero Hero incentive.

I introduced my son-in-law at the event to show the guests how to use the breathalysers after the main course, to get a more “real feel” on seeing the results for themselves. It turned out to be a far more touching moment than anticipated as he had been the barman at the venue a young lady left from not to return home, due to a drunk driver.

This was part of the presentation of our Zero Hero incentive-positive reinforcement for safer alcohol use for safer roads. The rest of the luncheon at the Harbour where we all “just happened” to coincide was on a much more light-hearted note with a great mix of businesses, charities, and associations with common goals and ethics. The idea of coordinating charities and schools with perhaps an inter-school “challenge” to help consolidate our efforts was very well received.

Chris Long, Principal of the English International College presented this UNM category. Sustainability and plastic-free initiatives were headed up team captain Angela Lafferty, also with a lot of support from those present. Contributors to the event for the second year, the Rotary Club Marbella Guadalmina, were particularly interested in this category with their Plastic Soup incentive being amongst the priorities on their list.

Youth Internships and Job Opportunities was presented by UNM team captain Jeremy Fergusson and our Town Councillor Cristobal Garre spoke on the support offered to help local businesses best make it through the current situation. Kara Jaye Caradas is UNM captain for the more vulnerable and spoke about the Food Fairies & Hadas Caradasevents coming up. Other emblematic charities who made presentations included Collective Calling, Cudeca, Age Concern, Arboretum, Mi Moana and Plastic Free Seasto name but a few.

Georgina Shaw was once again a superb MC, my cameraman Pablo Martinez also outstanding, as is the photography by Sam Ho. Thank you Lily van Tongeren for helping get everyone in and organised once again this year. A huge thanks to Michel & Steven for my beautiful flowers and balloons and an enormous thank you and well done toThe Harbour Marbella: sheer excellence!

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