2nd edition of the Awards for Educational Eco-innovation

• The Endesa Foundation has launched the second edition of the Endesa Foundation Awards for Educational Eco-innovation, its leading eco-friendly culture programme.
• The period for Secondary, High School and Medium-level Professional Training students across Spain to submit their entries will remain open until 15 December.
• All the educational centres and teachers wishing to receive more information about these national awards can view the terms and conditions of the competition at ecoinnovacion.fundacionendesa.org

The Endesa Foundation has once again renewed its commitment to the environment and education by launching the second consecutive edition of the Awards for Educational Eco-innovation. These Awards, designed in collaboration with the European Foundation Society and Education, form part of the Endesa Foundation’s firm commitment to disseminate best practices in the area of responsibility, energy efficiency and a commitment to the environment, covering a lack of knowledge among youngsters in this area, which were revealed in the study, "Endesa Foundation Eco-barometer. Eco-culture and education”, published in 2016.

The aim of these Awards is to encourage and promote innovative practices in the area of energy, the environment and caring for and preserving the environment in the centres' educational projects. This is a key opportunity to demonstrate that there are good eco-culture practices, by promoting and selecting environmental education school projects that highlight the commitment of teachers, centres and students.

A total of 143 projects from all over Spain were submitted during the last edition. Of all the participants, 22% were from the Community of Madrid, 14% from Andalusia and Extremadura, 15% from the northeast of the country (Galicia, Castilla y León, Asturias and Cantabria) and, lastly, 6% from Aragon. Students from 17 autonomous communities took part in the 6-month project, with their teachers witnessing their enthusiasm and excitement.

Of the 15 finalists, the Jury recognised 7 projects, which were presented during the award ceremony, which was held at the Endesa Foundation’s headquarters in Madrid.

Three categories in which to take part

The Endesa Foundation invites all educational centres to take part in one of the three defined categories:

In the 1st category, “What is Nature for you?” students must conduct an innovative study on an environmental phenomenon or problem and prove that they know and understand ecosystems; in the 2nd category, "My creative solution for an environmental problem", they must submit eco-friendly entrepreneurial initiatives that identify a cause of environmental deterioration and propose specific and feasible solutions for this problem. And, lastly, in the 3rd category, “How would you improve your environment?”, participants are invited to submit initiatives that promote supportive collaboration with companies, all types of entities, administrations and other local communities, in providing solutions for specific problems.

The Educational Centres interested in their students taking part in the Awards for Educational Eco-innovation, can submit one or more entries to the different Categories, but only one entry in each educational level.

Entry registrations in the three categories shall be carried out exclusively online, by completing the form available on the ecoinnovacion.fundacionendesa.org website and following the instructions outlined there and in the terms and conditions, which clearly outline the format requirements and assessment criteria. The period for entry registrations began on 28 September 2017 and will end on 15 December 2017.

Once registered, candidates will have until 15 April 2018 to submit their projects electronically via the website: ecoinnovacion.fundacionendesa.org

Awards for Educational Eco-innovation

The ENDESA Foundation Award for each of the three categories, consists of a prize for each finalist, disseminating their project nationally and prize money to continue developing the environmental initiative in each centre: in the 1st category for a value of €2,000 each, in the 2nd category for a value of €2,000 each and in the 3rd Category for a value of €4,000; or for their refurbishment and adaptation to responsible energy and water consumption via the Endesa Foundation for an equivalent amount.

About the Endesa Foundation

The Endesa Foundation, chaired by Borja Prado, has a clear commitment to social development through its educational projects, training for employment, a commitment to the environment and cultural initiatives.

It develops educational projects, promoting initiatives aimed at transforming and innovating education at all levels and fostering academic excellence in universities through scholarships, grants and lectures.

It promotes employment training projects, focusing on the promotion of talent, aimed at people at risk of social exclusion, low-income young entrepreneurs and professionals over the age of 50.

It promotes environmental initiatives related to education in eco-culture and the promotion of energy efficiency. It is also committed to projects designed to reduce the environmental impact in industrial areas, which forms part of the Endesa Foundation's commitments.

Lastly, the Foundation continues to promote the illumination of historical-artistic heritage properties and promoting, restoring and preserving art and culture.

More information at: http://www.fundacionendesa.org/