Fundación EDPNews

The seventh EDP Solidaria programme is up and running. 23 organisations in Andalusia, Aragón, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Madrid, the Community of Valencia, Galicia, Extremadura, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands will receive a total of 800,000 euros to set up and implement solidarity projects in the three action categories on the EDP Foundation's programme: energy efficiency and equal access to energy, rural development, and care for the elderly.

The organisations can use the programme to implement and boost the scope of their initiatives, which will have a positive impact on 90,000 people. In addition to their own resources, they will be entitled to collaboration and supervision by EDP volunteers.

The energy company's Foundation has refocused the programme in a bid to address the consequences of the crisis brought on by the pandemic. It has increased the amount by 33% (200,000 euros) with respect to previous programmes, enabling a greater number of projects to be selected. The scheme aims to help set up and implement initiatives to improve the living standards of the most vulnerable.

The 23 projects selected were presented at a virtual event held in Oviedo, at the energy company's head office. It was attended by the Principality of Asturias government's Secretary for Social Rights and Welfare, Melania Álvarez, the Chairman of EDP Spain and its Foundation, Manuel Menéndez, and the Executive Director of the EDP Foundation, Vanda Martins. Also present were representatives of three organisations on the programme: Charo Romero, from the ECODES Foundation; Alicia Suso, from Cáritas Bizkaia; and Gloria González, from Economistas Sin Fronteras.

The EDP Foundation selected the projects on the basis of their contribution to the three action categories on the programme: energy efficiency and equal access to energy, rural development, and care for the elderly. It also took account of their contribution to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which EDP is committed.

The EDP Foundation's work with the organisations involved in EDP Solidaria extends to the EDP Foundation Academy, an initiative consisting of a plan for training in various areas such as finance, innovation, energy efficiency or social responsibility. The objective is to make organisations more autonomous and boost their organisational capacity.

The EDP Solidaria programme was first launched in 2015. Since then the EDP Foundation has allocated more than 4 million euros to 144 solidarity projects by 99 organisations, with a positive impact on the living standards of 440,000 people.

76 projects from all over Spain were presented at this seventh round. The EDP Foundation selected the following:

Andalusia:

• "Paz y Bien" Association - RURAL@GAP: Technology backup and digital skills for access to virtual learning for the mentally impaired living in rural areas of Saypa and Andévalo/Huelva.

Asturias:

• "Hogar de San José" Foundation - job insertion for young people formerly in care in the post-COVID era: a bid to complete the cycle of support from infancy up to total autonomy.
• "Acción contra el Hambre" Foundation: ASTURIAS SOSTENIBLE- A project to boost employment and entrepreneurship as part of the circular economy. PHASE III.
• Secot: Digitalised elderly people in the post-pandemic era (this will also be implemented in the Balearic Islands, the Community of Madrid and Catalonia).
• "Canvida Detección" Association: Canine Covid-Detection Unit.
• "Juan Bautista Montagne" Association: XUNTOS CONECTAMOS. Enhancing digital and social skills as a feature of educational innovation and equality between minors and families in situations of vulnerability.
• ACCEM Asturias - GENR@RED: Training project to reduce the digital gap and boost intergenerational relations.
• Asturias Down Syndrome Association: Support in Rural Environments.

Aragón:

• Medicusmundi Navarra Aragón Madrid: Space for public transformation and participation based on energy efficiency and the circular economy.
• Adri Jiloca Gallocanta: Children with rural energy against COVID.
• Somontano Development Centre: RURALEMPLEA, connecting opportunities.
• "Mallata Educativa" Association: “Books, culture and food in my village”.
• CEDEMAR - Young Rural Facilitators: Help with entrepreneurship, initiative and youth leadership in rural territories.

Cantabria:

• UNATE, the permanent university: Promotion of Digital Inclusion for the elderly in Torrelavega.
• Cáritas Spain: Bridging the digital gap to guarantee inclusive, equal, high-quality education for children and young people in situations of vulnerability (this will also be implemented in Asturias, the Community of Valencia and Castilla y León).

Castilla la Mancha:

• IntermediAcción: Educational success. Integral community education promotion and compensation programmes in Toledo, Hellín and Tobarra.

Community of Madrid:

• Research foundation to win the battle against Cancer: COVID19-HOSPITAL LA PAZ PROJECT. Cell Therapy with Memory T Lymphocytes for patients seriously ill with COVID19. PHASE II.
• Association "Adopta un Abuelo" (Adopt a Grandparent): "Abuelos Hackers" (Hacker Grandparents). This will also be implemented in the Community of Valencia, Catalonia and Andalusia.
• "San Juan del Castillo" Foundation: Female workers and essential workers.
• Prodis Foundation - Senior Classroom: Active ageing for the mentally impaired.
• Socaire for a new energy culture Usera: Advisory Network for Detecting and Taking Action concerning energy vulnerability in the Villaverde and Usera districts.
• Foundation for social action through music: "Experimenta Compañía"- Over-65s.
• Aldeas Infantiles SOS de España: Integral care programme for children and their families socially at risk in connection with the COVID health crisis (this will also be implemented in the Balearic Islands, Asturias, the Community of Valencia, Castilla La Mancha, the Canary Islands, Aragón and Andalusia).