Residents in Action. Duke of Edinburgh Award program
Presentation of the Duke of Edinburgh Award program by Trudi van Dorp
Hello everyone!
My name is Trudi van Dorp and I have been a permanent resident of La Cumbre del Sol for the past 40 years.
I am thrilled to share some fantastic news about the Duke of Edinburgh Award program and to invite our residents to participate! This esteemed program is designed to help young people develop essential skills, foster a sense of adventure, and contribute to their communities.
With my 50 years in education, I have been asked to be a mentor for a volunteer program at La Cumbre del Sol.
We are overjoyed to announce that students from the Lady Elizabeth School will be conducting one-on-one interviews with our residents to learn about their life experiences and wisdom. This incredible opportunity fosters meaningful connections between students and our elderly residents. The interviews will take place over the next couple of months, with each student conducting more than one interview. Each interview will last about 30 minutes and will be scheduled either at the school or at a location to your convenience. It's a wonderful opportunity for both age groups to learn from one another, share experiences, and build lasting relationships.
We encourage English-speaking residents to take part in this rewarding experience. Your involvement will make a significant impact on the students' learning experience and our community. Your participation means the world to us, and we believe that your unique stories and wisdom will inspire the students and create cherished memories.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We can't wait to hear from you! We are eagerly looking forward to your contributions and the lasting relationships that will be built through this inspiring program. We are grateful for your support.
Those of us who know Trudi are silent witnesses that behind the word “Sol” of Cumbre del Sol she really hides herself. Trudi enlightens us every day from sunrise to sunset. This initiative emanates from a generous and selfless soul whose presence does not go unnoticed. She is ever new bliss and joy, the rain in times of drought, the breeze when the heat is stifling. May God bless us all with your presence for another 40 years!
ReplyDeleteHere is the introduction of one of the students of the LES at La Cumbre del Sol:
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Constance and I am working in my Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering, which is interviewing and conversing with the seniors in the Cumbre del Sol. I am in Year 10 and looking forward to meet with you.
Constance interviewed the first senior resident today, April 12. It was a pleasant conversation in a quiet setting. We have started!
DeleteAnother successful encounter today,
ReplyDeleteApril 13, between a student of the LES and a resident of Cumbre del Sol
Cumbre del Sol lives💃 young and older together💪enjoying each other and learning from each other ❤️
ReplyDeleteMe gustarÃa compartir con vosotros un resumen de la mañana de pruebas de Espacio Amigos, que tuvo lugar el pasado 28 de agosto en la Cumbre del Sol. Fue un verdadero placer ver a unas 25 personas reunidas para escuchar a Trudi y Margaret presentar la idea de un nuevo centro comunitario abierto a todos los residentes, sin importar su nacionalidad.
ReplyDeleteLa presencia de Isabel Garrido, concejala de Asuntos Sociales y Personas Mayores, aportó un valor especial al encuentro, y agradecemos especialmente su interés y apoyo.
Contamos también con la intervención de Constance, estudiante del Lady Elizabeth School, quien explicó su papel como voluntaria en el programa ' Duke of Edinburgh Award' e invitó a más residentes a participar en las entrevistas. Tras la pausa para el café, se animó a los asistentes a sugerir temas para futuras reuniones. Entre los más destacados estuvieron la integración de diferentes culturas, actividades intergeneracionales y talleres de bienestar. Además, Constance nos sorprendió con una presentación en Power Point, paseando de mesa en mesa para compartir su trabajo, lo que fue muy bien recibido.
No olvidéis marcar en vuestros calendarios el 18 de septiembre, fecha en la que se celebrará la inauguración oficial de Espacio Amigos. El evento tendrá lugar a las 10:30 horas en el Edificio El Puig de la Cumbre del Sol. El tema será "La salud es lo que importa" y, por razones prácticas, las primeras reuniones de Espacio Amigos serán tanto en español como en inglés. La entrada es libre, pero si podéis confirmar vuestra asistencia, nos ayudarÃa mucho con la organización.
Estamos encantados de contar con vuestra participación y queremos subrayar que vuestra aportación es clave para el éxito del centro. Os animamos a compartir sugerencias o inquietudes sobre futuras reuniones; vuestra opinión es fundamental para construir juntos un espacio que responda a las necesidades de todos. Gracias a quienes ya habéis participado y a quienes lo haréis en el futuro. Juntos construiremos un gran Espacio Amigos.
Un cordial saludo a todos y gracias por vuestro interés y apoyo continuo. ¡Nos vemos pronto!
I'd like to share with you a summary of the Espacio Amigos test morning, which took place on August 28th at Cumbre del Sol. It was a real pleasure to see around 25 people gathered to hear Trudi and Margaret present the idea of a new community center open to all residents, regardless of nationality.
ReplyDeleteThe presence of Isabel Garrido, Councilor for Social Affairs and the Elderly, added special value to the meeting, and we are especially grateful for her interest and support.
We also had a talk from Constance, a student at Lady Elizabeth School, who explained her role as a volunteer in the Duke of Edinburgh Award program and invited more residents to participate in interviews. After the coffee break, attendees were encouraged to suggest topics for future meetings. Highlights included the integration of different cultures, intergenerational activities, and wellness workshops. Constance also surprised us with a PowerPoint presentation, walking from table to table to share her work, which was very well received.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for September 18th, the date of the official opening of Espacio Amigos. The event will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the El Puig Building at Cumbre del Sol. The theme will be "Health is what matters," and for practical reasons, the first Espacio Amigos meetings will be held in both Spanish and English. Admission is free, but if you can confirm your attendance, it would greatly help us with the organization.
We are delighted to have your participation and want to emphasize that your input is key to the success of the center. We encourage you to share suggestions or concerns about future meetings; your opinion is essential to building together a space that meets everyone's needs. Thank you to those who have already participated and to those who will do so in the future. Together we will build a great Espacio Amigos.
Best regards to all and thank you for your interest and continued support. See you soon!
Hello fellow cat lovers,
ReplyDeleteI am inviting you to join CumbreCats as volunteers at Cumbre del Sol. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for our beloved cats—every effort truly counts. We are a passionate group committed to trapping, spaying, neutering, releasing, and feeding stray cats, and now, more than ever, they need us.
Recently, our team rescued Luna, a young cat found injured near one of our feeding stations. Thanks to a volunteer’s quick response, Luna received veterinary care and was safely rehomed. Stories like Luna’s highlight the real impact each helping hand can have.
We are excited to take our mission further by teaching young people to actively participate in creating a cat-friendly environment and passing these values on to the community. We need volunteers to help feed cats, create a map of recognized feeding stations, inform residents about helping lost or sick cats, and assist with rescues. No experience is necessary—everyone’s unique skills and enthusiasm are welcome.
If you’re interested, please reply to this message with your ideas or availability, or contact us at tvandorp@hotmail.com. We are planning our next volunteer gathering at Cumbre del Sol on October 26th, at 10.30 hrs during the Espacio Amigos event and would love for you to join us. You can choose from a variety of roles, including feeding, mapping, educating, or rescuing—whatever best fits your interests and schedule.
Thank you so much for considering joining us. Without your support, none of this would be possible. Together, we can create a brighter future for our community’s cats.
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The next meeting is on Thursday October 16th, 2025 at 10.30 hrs in Edificio El Puig, la Cumbre del Sol.
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