A more integrative, humanized healthcare that improves people's lives. That is the objective of the Arte Paliativo foundation, founded by the social educator Silvia Fernández, whose work was recognized this Monday in the presence of King Felipe VI with the 2023 Social Award granted by the Princess of Girona Foundation (FPdG).
Palliative Art is a Catalan social entity that was born in 2016 to accompany the emotional dimension of people suffering from an advanced disease through artistic expression in hospitals, social health centers or at home. "Art is a vehicle to allow feelings to emerge, whether through painting, sculpture, music or culture," said Fernández at the end of the gala.
The seven employees and numerous volunteers they have have a wide presence in Catalonia, where they provide their services in centers such as the Sant Joan de Déu Maternity and Children's Hospital, the Barcelona Pediatric Cancer Center or the Terrassa Hospital. In total, last year they treated some 2,500 patients, and they aspire to extend their work to more centers throughout Spain.
Fernández, who has a sister who suffers from a rare disease, is the heart of a foundation that aspires to reduce the emotional, spiritual and social pain of people suffering from a disease and improve their lives. According to what he related, his first patient was his own grandmother, whom he accompanied until the end of her days with his art therapy. "From love and sensitivity you can do a project like this," he said.
The announcement of the award in the presence of His Majesty was the icing on the cake at the opening ceremony of the Talent Tour organized by the FpdG. The event aims to encourage young people to explore new horizons based on developing their potential with talks, congresses, exhibitions and cultural shows. In total, some 15,000 students from all over Spain will participate in the more than 350 activities organized in five cities -Zaragoza, Valladolid, Lugo and Girona- in which almost 300 speakers from different specialties will take part.
“We seek to amplify the talent of young people in an environment with a high unemployment rate. We do not want to talk about problems, but about opportunities. They need all our support”, pointed out Salvador Tasqué, director of the FpdG.
Before this act, the King took the opportunity to inaugurate the nearby Mobility City museum, from the Ibercaja Foundation, in the Bridge Pavilion designed by the Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid for the 2008 International Exposition. An emblematic space that had been in disuse for 15 years and is now After an investment of eight million euros (four provided by the Government of Aragon and another four by the bank), it reopens its doors to become an international benchmark for sustainable mobility of the future.
"We want Mobility City to be a center for dissemination and become a forum for debate on the mobility challenges of the future," said José Luis Rodrigo, general director of the Ibercaja Foundation.
The premiere of the installation was attended by more than a hundred political and business personalities from the community, with Felipe VI as godfather and the Minister of Industry, Reyes Maroto, as representative of the Government of Spain.
In total, there are 2,700 square meters of covered area that will open its doors to the public on March 3. Inside, the visitor will find four different spaces in which the evolution of the automotive world will be shown -from the first Ford model to the Delorean from the film Back to the Future-, innovative proposals that will lead the next steps in mobility or an area entertainment with interactive activities aimed at transmitting messages of responsibility and respect for the environment.
