- ASPRONTE, CIVITAS, Iniciativas Humanas and Nuevo Futuro Tenerife will be able to launch four projects this year thanks to these awards
- The award-winning initiatives focus on Functional diversity, social exclusion and support for young people.
Today, Wednesday, January 22, the Fundación Cepsa presented its 2019 Social Value Awards in the Canaries at an event held at Cepsa's offices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The event was attended by the top representatives of the four winning entities: the Asociación Familiar Pro Discapacitados Intelectuales de Tenerife (ASPRONTE — an association for the families of those with intellectual disabilities in Tenerife); CIVITAS (an association offering centers specializing in people with intellectual disabilities); the Asociación Iniciativas Humanas; and Nuevo Futuro Tenerife (an organization providing underprivileged children with family homes).
The winning NGOs, which will share a total of €50,000, were selected from the 56 entities that took part in the archipelago's 2019 edition of these awards. The winning projects are focused on improving the quality of life of people with functional diversity, multiple disabilities or who experience social exclusion.
Cepsa's Canary Islands Director and Head of the Fundación Cepsa in the Canary Islands, José Manuel Fernández-Sabugo, was accompanied at the award ceremony by Ombudsman and Chairman of the Jury, Rafael Yanes; the Director of Social Rights and Immigration of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jonás González; the Managing Director of Citizen Participation and Diversity for the Council of Tenerife, Nauzet Gugliota; the Managing Director of Social Services in Santa Cruz Tenerife, Marta Arocha; and the head of Tenerife Solidario, Beatriz Sicilia.
Also in attendance at the event were the Cepsa professionals who acted as charity sponsors for the winning projects, and who recommended these initiatives to the Fundación Cepsa: César García, Santiago León, Juan García and Vicente Martínez.
Fernández-Sabugo thanked the 56 entities that submitted their candidacies for "the commendable work they do on a daily basis," and congratulated the four winners by recalling that "it is always difficult to choose when it comes to projects that affect people, since everyone deserves to win and be able to implement or maintain their magnificent projects, but fortunately the jury, widely represented here today, is multidisciplinary and it is made up of experts in these matters, allowing the final decision to be objective."
He added "I am pleased to highlight the role of the sponsors, Cepsa professionals who, thanks to these Awards, have got to know these entities and learn more about their realities and their way of fighting for equality in every sense, helping to build a more inclusive society for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups."
Ombudsman Rafael Yanes expressed "what an honor it was to have been appointed president of the jury of these awards and to have the opportunity to participate in the decision together with people who have had an obvious social commitment throughout their career." He also thanked "the Fundación Cepsa's important contribution to the Canary Islands for the past 12 years through these awards, which have had an impact on improving the quality of life in the Canary Islands."
Award-winning entities and projects 2019
The "physiotherapy for children with multiple disabilities" project, submitted by ASPRONTE, and with César García as a sponsor, will provide a physiotherapy service to children with intellectual disability or multiple disabilities. This service will be integrated into the educational process, as support in the earlier years of life is vital in achieving good development. The award was received by the entity's president, Juan Arroyo.
Another of the award-winning projects was the one promoted by CIVITAS, sponsored by Santiago León. The "workshops to improve personal autonomy" project aims to promote autonomy in people with intellectual disabilities, who need the support from their occupational center and the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria day center, through different workshops to improve their personal and social skills. Important issues such as self-control, emotions, harassment, conflict resolution and sexuality will be addressed. Its president, Jacinto Vega, collected the award.
The Iniciativas Humanas 'Aporto' program, with Juan García as sponsor, seeks to promote volunteering among children and young people who are part of legal action programs. In this case, volunteering is used as a tool for social integration. The volunteers will accompany elderly people suffering from loneliness in care homes in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Caridad Cuyás, president of the Association, received the award.
The NGO Nuevo Futuro Tenerife, sponsored by Vicente Martínez, will hold talks, workshops and seminars in its space, Casa Verde, to promote opportunities to gain personal, social and work skills for various groups at risk of social exclusion, including those in long-term unemployment, immigrants and other culturally diverse groups. The NGO's director, Alfonso Roque, received the award.
The History of the Canary Islands Awards
Since 2008, the Fundación Cepsa has awarded €435.000 through its Social Value Awards in the Canaries, which has enabled the implementation or maintenance of 50 diverse projects, out of the 558 proposals received.
The awards have deep roots in Canarian society and also foster solidarity among the Cepsa professionals on the Islands, who act as sponsors to endorse the entities that submit their programs.
The Social Value Awards are also held in the Community of Madrid, Campo de Gibraltar and the province of Huelva, as well as in Portugal, Colombia and Brazil.