THE volunteers who serve as interpreters for Benalmádena's health centres and National Police, and who operate the foreign-language section at the Arroyo de la Miel library, were honoured last week at lunch with the town's mayor, Enrique Moya.
"The town hall wishes to recognise Benalmádena's volunteer interpreter programme, now in its 15th year, for its work to create greater understanding between the town's diverse nationalities," said the mayor. There are currently some 40 volunteers, and the mayor encouraged anyone with a strong knowledge of Spanish and a foreign language to join the programme by contacting the Foreign Residents' Department.
During the lunch at Restaurante Alborada, the councillor for foreign residents, María del Carmen Romero, used the occasion to present the second edition of the town hall's newsletter for foreigners. "The Foreign Residents' Department continues with our commitment to offer the foreign community information about the town's social, cultural and civic issues, with the goal of achieving full integration," she said.
The free, English-language newsletter is aimed at providing information that foreign residents might not otherwise have easy access to due to the language barrier, explained the councillor.