The King returned this Wednesday to Cádiz, the city where just a year ago, during the inauguration of the Language Congress, he dared to touch the box in front of the doors of the Falla Theater. On this occasion, the presence of Felipe VI in the Andalusian city has had the objective of attending the central event of the Talent Tour 2024, promoted by the Princess of Girona Foundation. Within the CongresFest, the Princess of Girona Social 2024 award has been announced, which went to Alicante architect Daniel Millor Vela for his projects to regenerate neighborhoods that suffer the consequences of social, economic and residential problems.
The Princess of Girona Social award recognizes "the career of young people who, due to their leadership and personal commitment, have achieved success in the creation and promotion of projects that promote the integration of groups at risk of exclusion, with new visions and tangible achievements, within the framework of social entities or companies", according to their bases. In choosing Daniel Millor, the jury valued "his vital commitment as an architect and social and solidarity activist; promoting community regeneration of vulnerable neighborhoods, empowering their inhabitants to develop their own well-being and improve their health."
Cádiz is the third stop of the Talent Tour that began its journey in Lleida, on January 19, and continued in Salamanca on February 20. On both occasions, Queen Letizia was in charge of representing Princess Leonor, a role that, on this occasion, fell to the King. In Lleida, the CreaEmpresa prize was proclaimed, which was awarded to the architect Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros, and in Salamanca, the actress Victoria Luengo was chosen as the Art prize.
Of the 85 candidates presented for the Princess of Girona Social 2024 award, there were five finalists who presented their projects this Wednesday at the event held in Cádiz. Daniel Millor (Alicante, 1988), who was the winner, is an architect graduated from the Higher Polytechnic School of the University of Alicante. As coordinator of the Asertos Program from Quatorze and Arquitectura Sin Fronteras, his work consists of the conviction that everyone should have an adequate home and job, and that community participation is the greatest driver for social change.
Its social initiatives seek community regeneration of damaged neighborhoods, environments in our cities that suffer the consequences of social, economic and residential problems. These social projects have made it possible to completely rehabilitate nine properties and carry out sixty-seven emergency interventions (electrical, structural risk, humidity, etc.). It has been recognized by UN Habitat Mexico in 2021 and has been awarded the social innovation award from Obra Social “la Caixa” in 2022.
The other four finalists who presented their projects were the economist Berta Argenté (Barcelona, 1993), founder of Blum, a foundation that creates social businesses so that every woman can build her future; Alberto Cabanes (Ciudad Real, 1988), also an economist and founder of Adopta Un Abuelo, a social project that employs 20 people and is present in 50 cities and has more than 250,000 registered volunteers from 18 countries; María Caso (Madrid, 1998), president of the NGO Inakuwa, a cooperation project in which students and professionals from all disciplines come together to achieve the economic and social development of communities without resources through education and Loida Muñoz (Málaga , 1988) social worker who has led the first national project to prevent labor trafficking in exploitation and abuse, developed together with the Civil Guard and recognized in international reports.
Before proceeding to the announcement of the Princess of Girona Social award, the Princess of Girona CongresFest meeting took place, in which hundreds of young people attended inspiring talks, discussions and live music.
Presented by Begoña Arana, Princess of Girona Social Award 2019 and director of the Cádiz association Nuevo Hogar Betania, and Miriam Reyes, Princess of Girona Social Award 2017 and founder and CEO of Escuelas Visuales, the event was also attended by José Miguel Bermúdez, Princess of Girona CreaEmpresa 2018 Award and founder of bound4blue (b4b), a promising company that is revolutionizing maritime transport by reducing emissions by up to 40% thanks to the implementation of large push and pull sails on ships. wind power.
The central part of the event has revolved around social entrepreneurship. During the morning, the impact projects of the winners in the 2017 and 2019 editions were known, presented by Pablo Fernández, multifaceted entrepreneur and patron of the Princess of Girona Foundation, founder of Clicollege and who holds five Guinness Records in water swimming open.
The most relevant projects of the young participants in the Generation Purpose Foundation program have also been presented to the young people attending the CongresFest. Likewise, Generation Art was presented, an innovative initiative that aims to promote a new generation of young artists capable of promoting emotional well-being in the classrooms through music. The artist Nia Zalen closed the event with the performance of some of the songs accompanied by Federico Linares from Cádiz.
