Yesterday, in the Plaza de la Constitución of Pareja, next to the emblematic New Elm, Mayor Javier del Río brought an additional reason for celebration to the local festivities. With great enthusiasm, Del Río announced the donation of the 1,700 euros raised during the 2024 solidarity paella to the NGO Proyecto Hombre. This organization, dedicated to helping people with various addictions, has been operating for over three decades in the region, starting in Guadalajara and expanding to all of Castilla-La Mancha.
The Solidarity Paella event is part of the anticipated patron saint festivities in honor of the Virgen de los Remedios in Pareja. This specific act, central on the Day of the Peñas, brings together the 28 local groups in a gesture of unity and solidarity. This year, close to 500 tickets were sold, accumulating a significant amount of funds destined for charitable causes. Every year, the proceeds from this event are donated to a different organization operating in the province of Guadalajara.
During his speech, the mayor not only praised the generosity and commitment of the residents, but also highlighted the work of Proyecto Hombre. “I congratulate Elena Carrizo, the visible head of the organization, and all those who collaborate with her. They have helped thousands of people find their way in life, something that we want to appreciate on this beautiful day in Pareja,” expressed Javier del Río.
Elena Carrizo, general director of Proyecto Hombre Castilla-La Mancha, thanked the solidarity gesture of the residents of Pareja and commented on the presence of some users of their centers as a show of support during the festivities. “We come from Guadalajara, with some of the users of our centers, to accompany Pareja in these festive days,” Carrizo noted.
Proyecto Hombre Castilla-La Mancha, founded in 1992, is an NGO dedicated to the prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration of people with addiction problems. This organization is a member of both the National Association of Proyecto Hombre and the EuroTC, a European network of drug addiction treatment centers. Carrizo explained the relevance of their outpatient centers, which, through a flexible regimen, offer treatment mainly to people with structured lives dealing with alcohol or cocaine consumption.
Throughout its history, Proyecto Hombre has served more than 15,000 people. Thanking the support of the Pareja City Council, Carrizo emphasized the importance of visibility for addiction issues and the necessary resources to address them. “We are very grateful to the Pareja City Council and its mayor, Javier del Río, for thinking of us. Not only for the funds, but also for the visibility given to addiction issues.”
Among the voices present, José Manuel Rodríguez stood out, a beneficiary of Proyecto Hombre’s programs, who shared his experience of overcoming addiction. “I was very unhappy with my way of being. I talked to psychiatrists and, on my own initiative, I approached Proyecto Hombre.” After eleven months of intensive treatment at Bolarque facilities, José Manuel has managed to regain his family life and emotionally expressed: “For me, Proyecto Hombre is life.”
The collective gratitude and palpable emotion made for a perfect conclusion to a day that not only celebrated traditions and festivities but also highlighted the strength of solidarity and community support in Pareja.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
