By the Institutional Communications Office of the Municipality of Rapa Nui
The Municipality of Rapa Nui has taken an important step in developing its first Community Development Plan (PLADECO), following the conclusion of the first three participatory meetings that allowed the collection of proposals and perspectives from children, adolescents, adults, and senior citizens. The contributions obtained will serve as the basis for constructing this strategic instrument that will guide the commune future decisions and priorities.
While the development of a PLADECO is an obligation established in the Organic Constitutional Law of Municipalities, Rapa Nui has distinguished itself by promoting a participatory and inclusive process, specifically designed to gather the opinion of the community across different age groups. In this way, participants were able to contribute in seven thematic areas: environment, public spaces, education and cultural heritage, tourism and local economy, health and well-being, security and coexistence, and citizen participation.
“What we are doing from this municipal administration is opening new spaces for participation for the entire community, in line with our Haka Ara Community Government Plan, which places family at the center of all our actions,” stated the Mayor of Rapa Nui, Elizabeth Arévalo Pakarati.
The mayor added that the process was designed to integrate different perspectives of the territory. “We consider the entire family: the children and young people, who represent the future; the men and women who are building the island’s present; and our koro and nua, who, as senior citizens, are bearers of wisdom and experience. All these perspectives are part of our PLADECO, which will be the roadmap for the future decisions we make as a municipality,” she affirmed.
The participatory meetings were held at Marae Haŋa Piko. The first day brought together children and young people between the ages of 10 to 17; the second day gathered adults aged 18 to 59; and the third day included the participation of senior citizens aged 60 and over. Various organizations and institutions present on the island also had the opportunity to submit their proposals.
Currently, PLADECO is in the systematization and analysis stage of the collected information. In the coming weeks, further participatory sessions will be held with the same age groups, during which the initiatives prioritized by the community will be presented and validated. Finally, all of these contributions will be compiled into a final document that will be submitted for approval by the Honorable Municipal Council.
