After months of hard work and collaboration, the solidarity initiative ‘Adopta un Colegio’—driven by Startup Valencia, ATH21, and the teaching community of Para Profes—has improved the educational conditions of thousands of students affected by the DANA storm. The project has provided direct financial aid totaling €100,000, distributed across more than 30 educational centers in 15 municipalities.
Launched with the goal of channeling financial resources, materials, and emotional support to affected schools, the project has achieved significant progress. Efforts have focused on rebuilding and improving infrastructure in various schools, including entrances, playgrounds, and fencing, along with the delivery of school furniture and educational materials.
To promote digitalization and ensure educational continuity, the initiative distributed more than 300 computers and digital devices. In addition, volunteers, educational publishers, teachers, and psychologists provided hundreds of hours of emotional support, and pedagogical resources were created and shared. As part of the Christmas and Carnival solidarity campaigns, families and students also received over 3,000 toys.
The impact of ‘Adopta un Colegio’ has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of companies, NGOs, and volunteers who answered the call of this educational emergency. Over the past months, the Adopta un Colegio team has mapped the specific needs of each school and ensured that resources reached where they were most needed. All financial donations were managed through Admundi, an NGO focused on child development, and Fundación Migranodearena.
For Juan Luis Hortelano, president of Startup Valencia, this initiative demonstrates “the power of collective effort.” “The tech sector got fully involved in offering solutions for reconstruction, but above all, it has been a shining example of solidarity through numerous initiatives that provided essential material and financial resources to those affected.”
Cristina Carrascosa, lawyer and CEO of ATH21, adds: “The DANA storm was one of the most devastating catastrophes in our region’s history. As Valencians, we simply couldn’t stand by. People are always what matter most in life, and at ATH21, we wanted to use the reach, the network, and the resources we’ve built to help rebuild the lives of the youngest, who are the future and deserve to grow up with as little suffering as possible. I believe the unity between the three of us, together with the drive of the community, has not only sent a message of hope—it has translated into real, tangible help.”
Daniel Perelló, teacher and founder of Para Profes, who has led the Adopta un Colegio initiative, comments: “The education community has been—and continues to be—one of the greatest examples of solidarity. Dozens of schools from other parts of Spain, and even from France, Switzerland, and Australia, have organized charity races and toy drives, awareness campaigns, and a wide range of educational projects aimed at supporting reconstruction and standing with families, students, and teachers. We also received school furniture and teaching materials from hundreds of educational centers across Spain, which we delivered door to door. Educational companies, including publishers and EdTech firms, donated licenses, software, interactive screens, and school libraries to help restore key learning spaces.”
