The best things in life are free

EVERY year when the United Nationalities of Marbella Summit comes around, I enjoy a giggle, as I know it’s really a “sum it up” event, more than a summit, which sounds far more intimidating.

The reality is quite more down-to-earth: a local, community get together to network with others; at no charge as entrance is free.

Even living in paradise can pose situations we might not face otherwise, albeit due to language barriers or different backgrounds and beliefs, so communication becomes key.

We have common goals regardless of our differences which, when brainstorming, is an asset.

Through our previous events we have identified some of the main concerns of the international community: creating a communication grapevine is always top of the list as is all year round business; collaboration between charities for example can only favour this. Just last week I bumped into Ian Scholes at a Debra charity event. He reminded me that we had first met at the #UNMS2016 which is where he found out about and consolidated a relationship with the Butterfly Children’s Charity. Four years on they are still enjoying this partnership. They are #BetterTogether.

Discussions on the subject of safer roads and options for travelling around the city, without having to drive, or drink and drive, have already produced some great incentives since first contemplated. More awareness and participation to further impulse environmental improvements is going well; something we can all easily support and perhaps above all, optimising opportunities for teens and young adults.   

Over 6 decades 147 have come to establish their own wonderful communities and somehow, we all flow in harmony around this magical city: we have great weather, great homes, great schools, almost everything we could possibly want: but is it what our children want?

Please don’t get me wrong; it’s a beautiful place to grow up and to retire, but what about the bit in the middle? This is where my concern has always been, more so than ever now I want my daughter and granddaughter to stay!

I left Marbella to have a family as back in the day we didn’t have the infrastructure we do today. When I first moved here in the early 80’s there was a three-year wait just to get a ‘phone line installed. Certainly, a thing of the past but still a work in progress to really afford our youth the same opportunities they would have had elsewhere; unless we want them to all go elsewhere.

There is much we can do without having to do much if we pull our resources, so thank you in advance for taking the time to join us on the morning of Tuesday 14^th May and share your ideas; your input is priceless. We’ve chosen a beautiful sea-view venue that’s easy to get to, with easy parking and it’s free entrance; what could be better?

www.rtvmarbellanow.com/UNMS2019