The awards will be presented as part of the 15th state meeting of the Spanish Learning-Service Network. It will bring together over 500 professionals seeking to promote the "Learning-Service" working methodology, which combines learning objectives with community service to provide a pragmatic and progressive learning experience while meeting society’s needs.
In recent years, the Learning-Service methodology has grown exponentially in Spain as an element of social and educational transformation. The multiple benefits of this methodology have been demonstrated: it improves academic achievement, fosters students' motivation, educates them about life and society's problems, opens the school to the outside world, and develops an attitude of service to others, helping students become supportive and committed citizens to their surroundings and their communities.
The numbers of the national competition give an idea of the scope of this network: this year 359 projects were submitted, involving 121,429 pupils from more than 600 educational centers and social organizations from all Spanish autonomous communities.
In this 8th edition of the award, the jury of experts honored 21 projects from different educational levels (infant-primary, secondary-baccalaureate, vocational), as well as from social organizations offering Service-Learning.
The themes addressed by the winning projects are many: healthy habits, solidarity, and human rights, inclusion, environment, cooperative work, gender equality, the inclusion of people with disabilities, immigration, and encouraging reading.
The award ceremony will also be attended by Education Minister Hon. Pilar Alegría. Also, Basque teacher and educator Neil Zaitegi will give a lecture on "Learning-Service: social responsibility and citizenship."
The event shall give voice to students who participated in the award-winning projects, and shall speak about their experiences.
The awards are supported by "DKV Seguros," "Fundación La Caixa," "CENEAM" (Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge), the Organization of Ibero-American States, "Fundación Ana Bella," "Mullor S. A.," "Educo," "Torresco," "Plena Inclusión," "Esemtia," "Fundación Princesa de Girona," "Esade," "Arci Nature," "ACES-Andalucía," "Edebé," "REDAPS," and Seville City Council.
