More than twenty people, mostly young, have arrived in Telde to participate in a series of coexistence days that have connected the neighbourhood of Jinámar with a community from Northern Ireland for 14 years.
The Telde neighbourhood of Jinámar has become the epicentre of a cultural exchange that has now spanned 14 years. A group of over twenty people from Northern Ireland, many of them young, has come to the city to take part in coexistence days aimed at strengthening the ties between both communities.
The mayor of Telde, Juan Antonio Peña, visited the Evangelical Christian Church of Jinámar, where much of the experience takes place, to welcome the group. During their stay, the visitors are accommodated in tents set up in the church courtyard, which becomes a communal space for meeting and participation.
The initiative includes shared activities with local children, aiming to foster mutual understanding and the exchange of experiences. Peña highlighted the human aspect of the project and noted that "it is a profoundly enriching experience where two peoples situated in very different parts of the world have the opportunity to meet, share their cultures and viewpoints, and, above all, grow together through knowledge, respect, and coexistence."
The municipal leader also valued Jinámar's openness to the world. "Jinámar once again demonstrates that it is a neighbourhood open to the world, capable of generating connections and welcoming people from other places with closeness and solidarity," he stated. "These experiences allow people from far away to plant their seeds here and remind us that geographical borders are not a barrier when there are people willing to build bridges and share what they have in common," he added.
A story that unites two territories
One of the driving forces behind the project is Josué Perera, a native of Jinámar, who has contributed for years to maintaining and strengthening this connection. Rebekah Murphy Frazer, born and raised in Jinámar, also plays a fundamental role in the relationship, having returned to Ireland at the age of 11, the country of origin of her parents, Dennis and Maripat Murphy.
The Murphy family is part of Jinámar's history. Dennis and Maripat arrived in Gran Canaria in 1975 and, years later, founded the Evangelical Christian Church of Jinámar in 1986, a space that has become a reference point for this connection. The seven siblings of the family have maintained their ties with Telde and Jinámar. Now, Rebekah returns accompanied by her husband and their three children, all born in Ireland, reinforcing a family story that unites two territories separated by thousands of kilometres.
Rebekah is also responsible for facilitating communication between the visitors and the locals, as she is the only member of the group who understands and speaks Spanish. Her command of the language and her distinct Canarian accent reflect her unique story: she was born, raised, and nurtured in Jinámar and Telde before returning to Irish soil to build her life.
"This story demonstrates that the bonds between peoples are built, above all, through people," Peña highlighted. "It is the families, the neighbours, and those who have maintained these ties for years who have ensured that this connection remains alive and that today we can welcome new generations in Jinámar who come to learn about our city and our way of life," he added.
A tour of Telde
As part of the coexistence days, the group also had the opportunity to explore different areas of Telde on a guided tour by the mayor. The participants toured the Town Hall facilities, where they learned about the Plenary Hall, and later visited the Local Police Station. The tour allowed the visitors to get acquainted with some of the public services in the city, complementing the planned coexistence activities during their stay.
With 14 years of history, this project keeps alive a connection that began in Jinámar and today unites generations of people from the Canary Islands and Northern Ireland through coexistence, friendship, and cultural exchange. The experience continues these days with new activities that strengthen the ties between both communities.
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