Eleven young people from Tomiño, ten of them with municipal scholarships, participated in the first edition of the Tomilingo program, which allowed them to improve their English and have an experience abroad. The meeting took place at the IES Antón Alonso Ríos with the presence of the mayoress and the center's director, Héctor Lago, to review the initiative.
Participants highlighted the welcome from host families, the variety of activities and excursions, and the opportunity to have this experience, which for many would have been difficult to afford without the Council's support. The program, promoted by the Council at the request of the youth participation group Voces Novas, aims to facilitate access to language learning stays abroad.
For two weeks, the group stayed in Westgate-on-Sea, combining English classes with living with native families and a program of workshops, cultural events, and visits to places like London, Cambridge, and Canterbury. Interactions with students from other countries also allowed them to practice the language and make new friends.
The students explained how the immersion helped them develop in daily situations in a different environment and gain autonomy and confidence. Beyond classes, they valued the learning gained from daily life in host homes and communicating in English outside the classroom. The mayoress emphasized the satisfaction of seeing the program's success, born from a youth proposal, and the importance of scholarships so that economic situation is not an educational barrier.
Sandra González thanked the involvement of the IES Antón Alonso Ríos team and the host families. The shared assessment will serve to improve future editions of the Tomilingo program.
