As we mark the first anniversary of the damage that had such terrible consequences in the Valencian Community, many of the material losses and damages continue to require solutions and reconstruction.
In the case of educational centers, the school community was seriously affected; In fact, 16,000 schoolchildren were suddenly unable to attend class, their schools had suffered serious structural damage and many of them have started the school year in barracks or have temporarily moved to other centers. Which highlights the need to seek immediate and sustainable solutions for reconstruction that also guarantees its resilience in the face of possible adverse events in the future.
In this context, the Naturgy Foundation has launched a comprehensive action plan, Sumando Energías por Valencia, to support the recovery of areas affected by dana, with four areas of action: people, employment, education and the environment.
Education
In the field of education, the project will benefit 130 educational centers in 38 municipalities, in which the Foundation promotes the installation of photovoltaic plants in 40 educational centers, and carries out educational and environmental awareness actions, thus promoting a change in habits and encouraging energy efficiency. The plan includes carrying out pedagogical energy audits and creating school energy councils in which students, families and school staff participate.
With this, Adding energy for Education, in addition to facilitating the energy transition of the participating centers, seeks to impact school communities so that they are more aware, committed and resilient to sustainability.
The objective is for these centers to not only play a key role in promoting the transition and energy efficiency, but also to be nerve centers capable of providing a coordinated response to future natural disasters and reference points in their respective communities.
Effigy Schools
The centers that will receive solar installations from the Foundation will become part of the Efigy Schools educational network, one of the permanent initiatives of the Naturgy Foundation, which is committed to the creation of a network of educational centers trained in energy transition with the aim of generating an educational and awareness impact in school communities that join in the responsible use of energy and adaptation to climate change.
Eva Buch, Director of Education and Dissemination of the Naturgy Foundation, explained that “through the Adding Energies for Valencia Plan we want to accompany the educational centers affected by the damage in their recovery. And the best way to help these educational centers is to offer them our knowledge on education.”