10.06.2025
We support local organisations transforming the areas affected by the DANA
Horta Sud DANA Valencia
Fundación Telefónica, together with Fundació Horta Sud, Caixa Popular, Grupo Ugarte Automoción, Florida Universitària, Lacomunicación and Milar-Comelsa, has made public the outcome of the “Transformem en xarxa” call for proposals, aimed at promoting the social and community recovery of the Valencian areas affected by the DANA storms. The initiative has selected 69 projects from over a hundred proposals submitted, distributing a total of 300,000 euros among the beneficiary organisations.
The selected projects involve more than 220 non-profit organisations that will work in a network, with an average of three organisations per project. The areas of action include the emotional recovery of citizens after the catastrophe, the preservation and restoration of the affected natural ecosystems, social revitalisation aimed at vulnerable groups such as migrants, young people, women, and the elderly, as well as social inclusion programmes for people with disabilities.
The selected projects involve more than 220 non-profit organisations that will work in a network
Territorial reach and collaborative approach
Most of the projects will take place in the l’Horta Sud region, the epicentre of the catastrophe caused by the DANA. However, eight projects will be extended to other affected areas of the Valencian region: Ribera Alta, Foia de Bunyol and Requena-Utiel, demonstrating the inclusive and supportive nature of the initiative.
Mercedes Juan, head of the “Transformem en xarxa” programme of the Fundació Horta Sud, emphasied the “open-minded perspective” of all the participating organisations, which “from the outset have understood and even requested that the aid reach all the affected communities in the Valencian region”. According to Juan, this is “an idea of community development that maintains the perspective of local action but without leaving anyone behind”.
The role of civil society in recovery
Luis Prendes, General Director of Fundación Telefónica, stressed “the importance of a shared project that seeks consensus to achieve the common good” and that “includes all the agents of civil society, from social organisations to the business community, including public institutions and academia”.
This view is complemented by the perspective of Paco Alós, Director of CSR and Institutional Relations at Caixa Popular, who stressed that recovery after the DANA “requires not only infrastructure measures, but also revitalising municipalities, rebuilding a sense of community, and ensuring that people are united and with a collective project for the future”.
Luis Prendes stressed “the importance of a shared project that seeks consensus to achieve the common good”
Transparent and participatory selection process
The selection committee for the call for proposals included representatives of all the promoting organisations and companies, as well as the Spanish Association of Foundations and the Fundación Movimiento Ciudadano of Manises. Local councils were kept informed throughout the process, with the active support of various mayors and technical staff, as well as the Mancomunitat Horta Sud, which helped disseminate the aid and supported the organisations in the presentation of projects.
The call “Transformem en xarxa” is an example of public-private collaboration aimed at strengthening the social fabric as a fundamental element in the recovery processes after natural disasters. The full resolution is available on the Fundació Horta Sud website.