The inaugural is led by Petra and Roland Dussealions, experts successful oversea lion care. Credit: Terra Natura Benidorm Facebook
Aqua Natura Benidorm has renewed its collaboration pinch respective German organisations dedicated to supporting young group astatine consequence of societal exclusion, done an innovative therapeutic programme featuring nan park’s oversea lions. Since launching successful 2024, nan task has already benefited much than 30 young people, offering them a safe and enriching situation to create affectional and societal skills.
The inaugural is led by Petra and Roland Dussealions, experts successful oversea lion attraction astatine nan park, who activity intimately pinch specialists specified arsenic Angelica Rickman, a younker involution therapist. Participants enactment astatine nan parkland and return portion successful guided sessions that thief them build confidence, resilience and connection abilities.
One caller subordinate is Leona, a 15-year-old German woman who spent six weeks astatine Aqua Natura Benidorm arsenic portion of her integration process. Throughout her stay, she received therapeutic support from Angelica Rickman. Petra explained nan effect of moving pinch nan oversea lions: “These animals person a typical sensitivity to link pinch those who request it most. Seeing young group for illustration Leona, who travel pinch difficult backgrounds, gradually unfastened up, spot others, and bask moments of calm and joyousness alongside nan oversea lions is genuinely moving and gives meaning to our activity each day.”
Young people
The programme besides involves ongoing supervision from Katrina Steiert, a societal worker astatine Campus Christophorus Jugendwerk successful Germany. She coordinates nan cross-border activities, ensuring continuous support and wellbeing for nan young people betwixt Spain and Germany.
Beyond nan German participants, nan task has begun to grow locally acknowledgment to partnerships pinch Fundación ArcoIris and nan relation Neue Horizonte. Both organisations attraction connected group pinch disabilities and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and person taken portion successful therapeutic sessions pinch nan oversea lions astatine Aqua Natura Benidorm.
Ttailored acquisition and life support
Fundación ArcoIris promotes societal and labour integration done a specialised employment centre, while Neue Horizonte offers residential homes and tailored acquisition and life support programmes for group pinch ASD and their families. Together, pinch complete 250 professionals involved, they supply opportunities for individual improvement successful a system and respectful environment.
Thanks to this project, Aqua Natura Benidorm strengthens its domiciled arsenic a centre wherever animal interaction serves arsenic a therapeutic tool, aligned pinch its commitments to conservation, animal use and societal responsibility.