Social inclusion, women’s empowerment and cultural exchange lie at the heart of SOULFood, the project presented by GEinnova. Its main objective is to foster inclusion and improve access to adult education through open cooking workshops, breaking down cultural differences and language barriers to build a strong and connected community.

On 6 March, GEinnova hosted the presentation of the new online course and its training modules at its offices. The programme focuses on civic and democratic participation, equality, and access to opportunities within society. Education plays a key role in personal empowerment: during the event, a Colombian and a Peruvian woman shared their inspiring experiences, highlighting how education enabled them to overcome social and family barriers and reach positions of leadership and professional success. SOULFood offers a welcoming space for dialogue and exchange, promoting alternative pathways towards independence and achievement.

The first cooking workshop took place on 9 March at the Joaquín Roncal Centre, featuring a Colombian cuisine session led by Ana. Participants prepared sancocho, a traditional dish consisting of a slow-cooked soup with chicken, beef, plantains, potatoes and corn, accompanied by rice, sofrito (lightly sautéed tomatoes and leek), coriander and lime. Participation was at the core of the experience, encouraging collaboration, learning and cultural exchange. Through Ana’s guidance, participants deepened their understanding of Colombian culture, while also learning about her social kindergarten initiative in Zaragoza.

The next cooking sessions will take place on 16 and 23 March at the Joaquín Roncal Centre. New participants are warmly invited to join and discover Venezuelan and Italian culinary traditions. Civic and democratic participation can start with something as simple—and powerful—as learning together.

GEINNOVA continues to strengthen its collaboration with the Canary Islands Federation of Municipalities (FECAM) by offering several courses aimed at technical and managerial staff from local administrations across the archipelago. These training activities aim to support the modernization of municipal public management by providing practical tools to improve efficiency, strategic planning, and talent management in the public sector.

Among the courses to be developed is “Public Management: Management by Objectives in Public Management,” a training course aimed at introducing results-based management models in local councils, aligning strategic planning with the daily activities of departments, and promoting the use of management indicators to improve decision-making. There will also be a course on “Implementing performance evaluation in public administrations. Professional career development,” focused on helping municipalities design evaluation systems that promote merit, continuous improvement, and professional development for public employees.

In addition, the training program will include the course “Strategic thinking. Development of strategic plans in local government,” aimed at strengthening the capacity of municipalities to plan for the long term, define shared visions with citizens, and design strategic roadmaps aligned with the current challenges of the territory.

The training plan will conclude in 2026 with “Social intervention and community revitalization. Citizen participation in local public policies.” With these initiatives, GEINNOVA reaffirms its commitment to innovation and the improvement of public administrations, contributing to the development of strategic capabilities in Canarian municipalities.