Poverty and Social Exclusion

We live in a society in which there are still great inequalities and many people do not have basic resources. «la Caixa» Foundation therefore promotes diverse initiatives in different areas to foster the social inclusion of the most disadvantaged sectors so that the people in them may have a better life.  At «la Caixa» Foundation their are committed to helping children in situations of social exclusion. Through CaixaProinfancia we help improve the social and economic situation of families with 0 to 16 year-old children in order to prevent the perpetuation of poverty from one generation to the next.

This programme is promoted and coordinated through over 350 social institutions that work in a network and see to implementing it in different Spanish cities. CaixaProinfancia helps children’s social and educational development with measures intended both to give psychological and educational support and to consolidate activities in open centres, children’s camps and summer schools. It also provides economic resources to cover basic needs in childhood (food, hygiene and school equipment). Since the start of the programme, they have helped over 200.000 children throughout Spain.

People and organisations that work to create a society with more opportunities for everyone deserve our full support. «la Caixa» Foundation therefore calls for projects from not-for-profit organisations that promote measures geared to sheltering, accompanying and providing psychosocial and health support for people who live in situations of social maladjustment and are unable to cover their basic needs. In 2010, la Caixa supported 305 projects against poverty and social exclusion.

Many parents of families with scant resources cannot provide their children with extracurricular activities while they work. To help them reconcile work and family life la Caixa created the CiberCaixa Quedamos al salir de clase (CiberCaixa Let’s meet after class), recreational-educational areas for 3 to 12 year-old children.

These multimedia classrooms, which are run in non-school hours and during holidays, have computers and Internet access, books, audiovisual equipment, games and activities for young children. There are currently 51 CiberCaixa schools in different Spanish cities.