En una nueva entrevista dentro de nuestra sección Voces que transforman, el vicepresidente ejecutivo de la Fundación Cris contra el Cáncer, Estanis de la Quadra-Salcedo, nos explica la labor en la lucha contra el cáncer de esta entidad.

Desde la Fundación Sacyr, colaboramos con ellos con el proyecto “Dame 5 Más”, orientado a impulsar la investigación del cáncer metastásico y a un proyecto específico dedicado al cáncer infantil.

Esta iniciativa llegó a la Fundación gracias a la implicación de una trabajadora de Sacyr que dió a conocer la causa.

Además, el año pasado, hicimos una donación a esta Fundación para ayudar en la investigación de tratamientos para el sarcoma infantil, gracias principalmente a la generosidad de nuestros empleados en la IV Semana de la Fundación Sacyr.

Estanis de la Quadra-Salcedo opina que cada uno de nosotros puede ser parte de esta investigación, con nuestras aportaciones y apoyo contínuo. "Todos podemos ser investigadores aunque no pisemos un laboratorio", afirma el vicepresidente de Cris contra el Cáncer.

Conoce aquí otras entrevistas de la serie Voces que Transforman:

• Elena Barraquer, presidenta de la Fundación Elena Barraquer.

The IV Sacyr Foundation Week took place between November 15 and 22 with many activities in Spain, Peru, Chile, Colombia, and the U.S. with the focus on achieving a goal under the claim "Actions that add up". Well, our actions have added up to €3,000 that will go to Cris contra el Cáncer, to investigate treatments for childhood sarcoma.

We organized many events in the countries mentioned above, almost 40 international actions. You can consult the complete program of activities and volunteering that we organize in this calendar.

We held a solidarity raffle of three Christmas baskets(we sold 616 tickets) that went to Luis Azcona Rivera (first prize); Ana Sánchez Argudo (second prize), and Blanca Alonso (third prize).

Congratulations to all three and thank you for your solidarity!

In addition, María Ruiz-Casaux won the Real Madrid jersey signed by Kylian Mbappé in the solidarity auction as she made the highest bid: €525.

Congratulations María and thank you for your great contribution!

Our volunteers from the Sacyr Band gave a unique recital on Thursday at the Honky Tonk (Madrid), for which we sold 220 tickets. We also held charity flea markets at the Madrid offices of Condesa de Venadito, Martínez Villergas and Esplandiú .

We organized three webinars: Camino del Pacífico and Ecosistemas del Dique (Colombia) and an international weRSoCial with the participation of all the countries that participated in this week of solidarity.

Many volunteers

We always say that the heart of the Sacyr Foundation is its volunteers, so this week we carried out a wide variety of actions that all of you were able to join.

Thank you for your hours of solidarity!

During this week of solidarity, a group of eight Sacyr volunteers also visited the Turkana (Kenya) project of the Emalaikat Foundation, with which the Sacyr Foundation collaborates.

The Sacyr Foundation has signed a collaboration agreement with the Federation of Gypsy Associations of Catalonia (FAGIC) to help disadvantaged families.

The Foundation will collaborate in two projects that will directly and indirectly benefit 4,350 people.

The first, Kerav Butji ("I work" in Romani), aims to promote the insertion of the gypsy population, especially young people, in the labor market. It will promote both access to paid employment and self-employment. In addition, a specialized accompaniment will be provided, strengthening competencies, with its own labor resources and with existing resources in the territory.

The second project, Sigarnipé ("The urgency"), will promote comprehensive, cross-cutting and community-based actions to guarantee the coverage of basic food and hygiene needs as well as basic necessities.

This project aims to prevent situations of chronification, loss of autonomy and deterioration of social ties through individualized social accompaniment, aimed at improving the quality of life.

The beneficiaries are people and/or families in vulnerable situations, mainly from the gypsy community, without excluding other groups that present difficulties of access to basic necessities throughout the territory of Catalonia.

Today we begin a new series of interviews with the Foundations with which Sacyr collaborates. In the first, Elena Barraquer explains the work that her Foundation carries out in favor of visual health around the world.

In the series "Transformative Voices", we give the floor to those who lead humanitarian projects that change lives. Foundations that the Sacyr Foundation supports in their philanthropic work.

In the first installment of this series, we interview Elena Barraquer, president of the Elena Barraquer Foundation.

The Sacyr Foundation collaborates with Elena Barraquer in the #NoMásCataratas project , a surgical and community initiative to restore vision to people with cataracts in countries around the world.

This action helps to immediately improve the quality of life of patients and strengthen ophthalmological care in the communities where it is performed.

This Foundation offers the possibility of volunteering for a week in the expeditions that visit countries in Africa, Asia and America every month.

The ceremony was attended by Cristian Encalada, general manager of Sociedad Concesionaria Ruta de la Fruta; Marcela Gonzales, manager of Corporate and Road Safety of Sacyr Chile; María José Galindo, head of Community Relations of Sacyr Chile and representative of Fundación Sacyr; Claudia Acevedo, director of the school; Cristian Moya, senior non-commissioned officer and head of the Almahue Viejo police station; and Joaquín Smith, project coordinator of Fundación Mi Parque, as well as teachers, students, parents and guardians.

The objective of the project was to improve and beautify this important meeting space, promoting a more welcoming, safe and stimulating environment for the integral development of the students. The renovated area was baptized by the school community itself as the "Patio de los Sueños Mágicos" (Courtyard of Magical Dreams).

As part of the closing of the initiative, a volunteer day was held with the active participation of the educational community. During the event, students, teachers and collaborators worked together in the planting of various plant species, which today bring life and color to the space, also strengthening the sense of belonging.
The project not only included the renovation of the playground, but also the delivery of educational games for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten levels, in order to enhance cognitive and social development from early childhood.

In addition, improvements were made to the front of the school and new playground equipment was added, expanding the recreational areas and providing more inclusive and functional spaces for the entire school community.

This initiative reflects the commitment of the participating entities to the sustainable development of local communities, contributing concretely to the welfare and education of children in rural contexts.

Not only connect the communities located along the 245 km that make up the Ruta 5 Concession contract , Los Vilos - La Serena section, through the execution of works that will provide safer and more expeditious travel experiences , but also be part of the territory in which we are immersed and, as a neighbor, interact with them to help improve their quality of life .

Under this premise and with the support of the Sacyr Foundation, we have developed various community relations actions that seek to strengthen our relationship with the environment. Among the latest, we have delivered a playhouse for the children of the Las Ardillitas kindergarten in the town of Huentelauquén, in the municipality of Canela .

This contribution is in addition to the improvement made to the playground of the aforementioned establishment, which thanks to the initiative promoted by Sociedad Concesionaria Ruta del Elqui now has a renovated play and learning space , as a result of the collaborative work of educators, families and the team of Fundación Mi Parque.

On the other hand, a total of 9 young men and women from the town of Salala (Ovalle), were benefited with the delivery of a computer, equipment provided by the corporate area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that will be very useful both for those who are in their last year of High School and for those who are already starting their university life.

This, after the equipment was refurbished in the framework of the celebration of Environment Day, and in line with the axis of sustainability and circular economy that governs the work of the company, to make them 100% operational and deliver them to the board of directors of the local Neighborhood Council, who subsequently determined who would be favored.

The Sacyr Foundation's 2025 Annual Report and the video summary of the year are now available, where you can see how we have transformed realities together.

Thanks to the passion of more than 2,600 volunteers, last year we promoted 87 projects and volunteer work in 8 countries, reaching more than 73,000 direct beneficiaries and 890,000 indirect beneficiaries.

The Foundation's work continues because we want to continue contributing to a better world, promoting solidarity and leaving a positive footprint in everything we do.

"We care for people, protect the environment and bring our help and hope wherever it is needed. And none of this would be possible without you: the volunteers and the associations with which we collaborate," says Manuel Manrique in the Foundation's Annual Report.

Six Sacyr professionals participated in an international volunteer program organized by the Sacyr Foundation in collaboration with the NGO UPlanet.

Paco Molina, Iván Roselló, Camila Quintín, Eva Abad, Lucía Cecilia, and Ana Grande spent a week in Bir Moghrein, an isolated village in northern Mauritania. The expedition also included Rubén Fernández, Ana Grande's son, along with a group of 30 healthcare professionals from HumanCoop, four members of UPlanet, and a professional from Viamed, Rodrigo Morilla, a former Sacyr colleague.
 

This marks the second edition of the volunteer program in Mauritania, which aims for Sacyr professionals to help repair and develop infrastructure that impacts the lives of the local population.

Among the projects they collaborated on, a highlight was the repair of deficiencies in the village's desalination plant to improve water production and quality. Additionally, the necessary technical documentation was created for the installation of a new containerized desalination plant, which is scheduled to arrive in the summer.

The electrical system of the health center was also renovated, a project to install new latrines in the primary school was developed, and progress was made on a one-hectare garden project to provide food for the population and create employment for women.

Finally, an entrepreneurship workshop was organized to boost the local economy among women.

A tough but rewarding experience

"On a personal level, it has been an incredible experience; it grounds you and gives you a lot of perspective on life. Professionally, it has been rewarding to be able to make my small contribution through this wonderful profession," explains Camila Quintín (Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure).

Paco Molina and Iván Roselló, both from Sacyr Water, collaborated on improving the desalination plant's facilities. They adjusted water quality by implementing a mixing system with filtered water to extend the life of the membranes. They also created a bypass for the filter backwash water.

Paco Molina states that it is a trip "worth repeating." "It has been a tough yet kind, disheartening yet enriching, selfish yet selfless experience – a mix of contrasting feelings, but always with a positive balance," he adds.

"We have bridged gaps through effort and collaboration," affirms Iván Roselló.

"Our group created a balanced ecosystem in a remote and inhospitable place. A reality check that puts my concept of 'life' into perspective," says Eva Abad (Sacyr Proyecta).

Ana Grande (Sacyr Holding) emphasizes that this volunteering experience is a "challenge overcome." "I applied engineering outside of my comfort zone, engaged in teamwork, and gained real learning. It has been an experience that adds value professionally and personally, thanks to the people with whom I shared this adventure," remarks Ana.

Rubén Fernández, in charge of the electrical tasks, stated that "the lack of technical materials made work difficult at the clinic, but with effort and improvisation, we managed to get our job done." He adds, "It has been a different and tough experience, but I have learned so much about how fortunate we are to live in a country like ours and the ease we have in Europe of drinking tap water and finding whatever you need in any store."
 

"It has been a tough but very rewarding experience at the same time. Helping these people who have so little gives you another perspective on life and what is truly important, which is helping each other. I value the human warmth of my colleagues," explains Lucía Cecilia (Sacyr Holding).

Collaboration with UPlanet

The collaboration between the Sacyr Foundation and UPlanet is fundamental for integrating infrastructure in this underdeveloped region, isolated by a vast desert expanse. UPlanet, in turn, collaborates with HumanCoop, which organizes medical-surgical missions to the country, thereby creating synergies in organizing all logistics.

The next initiative we will collaborate on will be the installation of a new portable containerized desalination plant, which will arrive in Bir Moghrein in the summer.

"Our collaboration with UPlanet helps us reach these remote areas, where, thanks to our help, they can count on experts in infrastructure and water who collaborate to improve the facilities of these communities," explains Pedro Alonso, Director of the Sacyr Foundation.

"International volunteer programs help our professionals step outside their usual scope of work and grow as individuals," he explains.

"At UPlanet, we believe that community development hinges on improving basic infrastructure, which allows for laying the foundations of sustainable development. Thanks to the collaboration and contribution of the Sacyr Foundation, the actions carried out in agriculture, water, and sanitation have been a success. They have immeasurable value," explains Matías Fernández, President of UPlanet, a former colleague from Sacyr Water, and coordinator of the field mission conducted in Bir Moghrein.

Esther Moral, Blanca Piera y Lucia Cecilia, de los equipos de la Fundación Sacyr y Comunicación, dieron una masterclass en la Fundación Prodis sobre el trabajo que hace la Fundación Sacyr tanto en los voluntariados como en responsabilidad social corporativa.

La Fundación Prodis trabaja para ofrecer un futuro a los alumnos con discapacidad intelectual una vez finalizada la etapa escolar, con el objetivo de favorecer su inclusión social y laboral.

Formación orientada al empleo de jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual

En 2005, Prodis fue pionera al crear el primer título propio en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid – Programa Promentor – para formación orientada al empleo de jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual.

Y en 2013 crearon Avanzas, un programa preuniversitario para preparar mejor a los alumnos en su aterrizaje al campus.

Hoy más de 170 personas con discapacidad intelectual trabajan en distintas empresas de Madrid, bajo el modelo de empleo con apoyo.

El 43% de las iniciativas aprobadas por el Patronato de la Fundación Sacyr son nuevas propuestas en España y el 33% son nuevas en el ámbito internacional. La Fundación Sacyr colaborará a través de fundaciones y asociaciones internacionales, entre las que destacan:

En España:

Fundación Hospitalarias Sant Boi: Itinerario deportivo terapéutico para mejorar la salud mental de personas hospitalizadas mediante actividad física adaptada.
Fundación Prodis: Becas para que personas con discapacidad intelectual participen en campamentos de verano inclusivos en Ávila.
FAGIC: Apoyo social a familias vulnerables y programas de inserción laboral para población gitana, especialmente jóvenes.
Fundación Síndrome de Dravet: Respiros familiares y apoyo integral a pacientes y cuidadores, con participación de voluntariado corporativo.
Fundación ECCA Social: Formación y alojamiento temporal para mejorar la inserción laboral de personas migrantes en situación de infravivienda en Almería y Níjar.
Centro Isabel Manoja (Torremolinos, Málaga): Proyecto cultural “He venido para ver el mar”, con exposición, talleres y actividades educativas para colectivos vulnerables.
Fundación IBO: Taller-escuela para confección de compresas reutilizables y distribución de kits de higiene menstrual en la isla de Ibo (Mozambique).
Fundación Tomillo: Programa educativo de tres años para jóvenes vulnerables, centrado en competencias, liderazgo y acceso a estudios superiores.
Fundación OC – Óscar Contigo: Participación de Sacyr en la carrera Niños Sin Cáncer City y apoyo al programa BuddyOC de robots de telepresencia.
CEMU – Ciudad Escuela Muchachos: Sustitución de calderas por aerotermia y voluntariado en talleres y actividades solidarias para los menores residentes.

Las nuevas propuestas aprobadas en Perú son:

TECHO Perú – Proyecto Rutas Solidarias (Consorcio Anillo Vial Periférico): con el fortalecimiento de tres ollas comunes en San Juan de Lurigancho a través de la construcción de espacios, soluciones de agua, mobiliario y electrificación, en una acción conjunta de Ferrovial, Acciona y Sacyr.
Ayuda en Acción – Trayectorias con futuro (Perú): Programa para reducir la tasa de jóvenes NINIS, apoyando su transición a estudios superiores o empleo mediante formación socioemocional, orientación académica y participación en voluntariado en la zona de Santa Rosa (Lima).
Coprodeli – Mejoramiento del CAE San Juan de Dios (Perú): Mejora de un centro de atención a menores en alto riesgo mediante la instalación de techado termoacústico y renovación de ventanas para garantizar espacios seguros en San Juan de Dios, Lima.

Y en Estados Unidos, el Patronato aprobó colaborar con United Way para el apoyo integral a la comunidad del sureste de Louisiana en cuatro ámbitos: respuesta a desastres, apoyo educativo a jóvenes, seguridad financiera y distribución de alimentos para mejorar la salud.