Memoria Viva: a job program to safeguard Fuerteventura’s heritage

Seventeen people are part of the Cabildo’s “Memoria Viva 2025” employment plan, dedicated to conserving and rehabilitating the island’s heritage spaces.

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura welcomed the 17 participants of the “Memoria Viva 2025” employment scheme, an initiative of the Ministry of Employment Promotion aimed at preserving and restoring Fuerteventura’s patrimonial sites while fostering local jobs.

“The plan is aimed at conserving the majorero heritage spaces, one of our greatest treasures,” said island president Lola García.

García explained that the project costs €472,007.63, co‑financed by the Cabildo and the Government of the Canary Islands through the Canary Islands Development Fund (FDCAN). She added that the island currently has more than 5,500 unemployed people, underscoring the importance of initiatives like this to reduce unemployment and improve labour insertion.

Employment Minister Nuria Cabrera highlighted the Cabildo’s commitment “to promote active employment policies in Fuerteventura, in this case with a programme for the conservation of our heritage within the network of Fuerteventura Museum centres, thanks to coordination with this island authority.”

Projects already underway

Work on conditioning and rehabilitation has already begun at several sites, including:

• Faro del Tostón
• Cueva del Llano
• Faro de la Entallada
• Casas de Felipito el Feo
• La Atalayita
• Molino de Villaverde
• Complejo Cultural Patrimonial de La Ampuyenta

Cabrera added that, through agreements with municipalities, the plan will also address historic assets in various towns, such as traditional houses, historic lime kilns, former schools, and more.

“Through agreements with the town halls we will act on the historic heritage of the different municipalities – traditional houses, historic lime ovens, old schools, etc.,” she noted.

Types of work

The programme’s activities include:

• Facade beautification
• Cleaning and maintenance
• Structural consolidation
• Improvements to signage and accessibility

Participants and supporters

The ceremony was also attended by:

• Museum Minister Rayco León – who emphasized the importance of projects that protect the sensitive majorero heritage.
• Employment councilors Érica González (Puerto del Rosario) and Lucía Darriba (Pájara).

Rayco León stressed that “projects like these are crucial when dealing with such sensitive heritage as the majorero patrimony.”