Nearly 30,000 children take part in CaixaProinfancia summer activities
The "la Caixa" Foundation's CaixaProinfancia programme is setting up summer camps, urban colonies and free open centres throughout Spain in which around 30,000 children and adolescents in situations of vulnerability, at risk of poverty or social exclusion are expected to take part.
The institution is earmarking more than 9 million euros to promote these educational leisure activities during the school holidays, which will be carried out through more than 300 social organisations that collaborate with the CaixaProinfancia programme.
Since its creation in 2007, CaixaProinfancia has been promoting a range of quality summer activities aimed at children and teenagers from homes with economic and social difficulties, while at the same time helping families to reconcile work and family life.
This summer, the programme focuses on the benefits of physical activity and digital disconnection as a tool for social integration and the personal development of children. Access to these extracurricular experiences has an impact on academic results and is recognised as an important determinant of educational success.
"All children should be able to enjoy the summer and their holidays. That is why, through these open educational leisure activities, we reinforce our commitment to equal opportunities for children and support families who need it most at a time of year that brings difficulties for many households", said the Deputy Director General of the "la Caixa" Foundation, Marc Simón.
Five challenges without screens
CaixaProinfancia is also providing social organisations with a summer guide that highlights the value of play and physical activity as effective tools for social interaction and personal development for children.
Through five challenges based on digital disconnection, the aim is to encourage interaction as a driving force for learning and improving skills. All the activities are curated and advised by a psychopedagogist specialised in games and activities with values.
"Scientific evidence supports the benefits of physical activity for the body, mind and emotions during childhood. Play and contact with nature are essential elements for the integral and healthy development of children and adolescents, improving their skills, promoting their social well-being and offering them lasting health", says Juanjo Rodríguez Yáñez, lecturer in the Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences at Ramon Llull University, collaborator in the CaixaProinfacia programme and author of the article Physical activity in leisure time: health, play and nature.
CaixaProinfancia, a network intervention model
The "la Caixa" Foundation's CaixaProinfancia programme seeks to break the transmission of inherited poverty and promote equal opportunities. It is aimed at children and adolescents in situations of economic poverty and social vulnerability, in order to promote and support their development in a comprehensive and personalised way.
In addition to summer camps, urban colonies and open centres, the programme promotes the development of children throughout the year through educational reinforcement, school equipment, psychological support, family educational workshops and aid for children's food and hygiene, glasses and hearing aids.
Last year, CaixaProinfancia helped more than 65,000 children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 and more than 40,000 families in 145 municipalities in Spain. In total, since its inception in 2007, it has reached more than 375,000 children and adolescents and more than 217,000 families.
With an innovative intervention model based on networking and consolidated over more than 15 years of experience in vulnerable environments, it has the collaboration of 481 social entities that are responsible for directly assisting families, prioritising aid and monitoring each case.
