Two decades of RANA — how puppets, books and quiet persistence empower children in Mallorca

Twenty years of RANA: small beginnings, now an indispensable part of Palma

When the trams in Palma give their soft squeal in the morning and the scent of fresh coffee drifts from Plaça Cort, friendly posters with the word “Feliz” hang on some lampposts. They are a small sign that something steady has been growing in the background since 2005: the RANA foundation, founded in Mallorca, now for many a fixed address when it comes to protecting children (Ana María Durán y la Fundación RANA: 20 años de compromiso por los niños en Mallorca).

Prevention, stories and real encounters

Ana Maria Durán, an educator from Manacor, has worked for RANA for seven years. Those who meet her see more than a specialist: sometimes there are hand puppets, small books and a patience in her bag that has more effect than big words. The work is aimed at children between four and eleven — simple rituals, short stories, space for language. The message is clear: give children a voice so they can recognize and name boundaries. This is not a spectacular intervention, but everyday work that pays off little by little.

RANA cites impressive figures: around 55,000 children and adolescents are believed to have been reached so far. About 5,000 adults took part in trainings, and the therapy program supported almost 800 adult survivors. Numbers that show: prevention and aftercare must go hand in hand — and both take time, staff and nerves.

Program, dates and how you can get involved

For its 20th birthday RANA opens its doors in Palma: on Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20, the foundation invites people to the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca building at Calle Estudi General 7. The first evening (start around 6 pm) offers a film and a subsequent discussion with participants from theatre and the foundation; on Thursday the talks begin at 9 am. Ana Maria Durán will also present a new children's book that was created together with colleagues. Those who wish to attend can find the registration form on the foundation's social media channels. The participation fees are deliberately modest (€12 for both days; individually €5 or €10).

More than workshops: creating public awareness

What began as an initiative has become a team of educators, psychologists and criminologists — professional but not aloof. A central goal remains: adults should look instead of turning away. Direct address is uncomfortable, that's true; but without words and actions prevention often remains just a good intention. RANA tries to create public awareness so that the issue is not only discussed among specialists but in schools, with families and also in the café around the corner.

Support also comes from unexpected sources: a video project is funded by the TUI Care Foundation. Yes, the large tourism industry can have a local impact — not always perfect, but sometimes constructive. Such cooperations bring money into projects, open up reach and ensure that messages also reach people who would otherwise not be reached.

How you can help — and why it matters

RANA welcomes donations, volunteers and participants in workshops. Local initiatives thrive on commitment: from small hands putting up posters to big hearts giving time. Strolling through Palma on a cool morning and seeing one of the "Feliz" posters means pausing for a moment. Behind the friendly word are two decades of dialogue work, counseling, often unspectacular hours in which trust grows.

The balance sheet is not a glittering banner of victory but a quiet promise: to let as many children as possible grow up more safely. And this concerns us all — parents, teachers, neighbours, tourists and business people. So when you next pass Calle Estudi General, take the poster as an invitation: look, get involved, take responsibility. No big show effect, but lasting impact.

In the sound of the city, between market stalls and bus noises, RANA's work remains an example of how much calm, persistence and small gestures can achieve. And anyone who wants to can become part of this story.