Fundació Caixa Enginyers: 15 years transforming realities

Cooperating is building the future. But, over time, I have understood that it is also a way of being in the world. It is believing that when we combine capabilities and share responsibilities, challenges become collective opportunities. Now that the Fundació Caixa Enginyers celebrates its 15th anniversary, I feel that we are not only commemorating a trajectory, but reaffirming a way of doing things: putting people at the center and generating shared value in a real and sustained way.

And it is also time to thank the solidarity and commitment of the more than 220,000 members of our entity, who have made these 15 years possible. Throughout this time, the Fundació Caixa Enginyers has grown and evolved, culminating in a new positioning, "The value of Cooperating," which is a clear declaration of intent. We are committed to the social and cooperative economy, to financial health and culture, and to engineering at the service of social development. We believe, and we demonstrate it every day, that another way of doing finance is possible: more human, more sustainable and more connected with positive impact.

Looking back, the figures are impressive: more than 7.5 million euros allocated to 850 projects since 2011; more than 12,000 people participating in socio-labor insertion programs; 1,000 students with scholarships; 2,500 entrepreneurial initiatives supported; 2,000 children approaching STEM disciplines. But, honestly, what matters most are not the numbers. It's the stories. The opportunities that open up. The trajectories that change. And none of this would have been possible without a network of solid alliances with entities such as Càritas, Fundació Arrels or Cruz Roja; or reference universities such as the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya or the TecnoCampus, among many others.

Due to the origins of our entity, linked to the world of engineering, and as a woman, the "Woman and Engineering" program, promoted together with the Royal Academy of Engineering and which has reached Catalonia for the first time in its tenth anniversary, makes me especially proud. Seeing how young female talents find role models, security, and opportunities in the STEM field is understanding that cultural transformation is also built from accompaniment, and that fills me with satisfaction. Reducing the gender gap is not just a matter of equity, it is broadening perspectives and enriching the future of engineering itself.

I also remember very sensitive moments, especially one that occurred when I joined the Fundació Caixa Enginyers four years ago, when we mobilized with the Red Cross to support people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Other moments have also been key, such as when, in the face of COVID-19 and the DANA in Valencia, we quickly activated support mechanisms, channeling the solidarity of our members. It is in these moments when a foundation puts its essence to the test. And I honestly believe that, thanks to all our members, we have risen to the occasion.

Reaching fifteen years is a turning point. The challenge now is to grow without losing our soul, innovating, generating new alliances, adapting to social and economic changes, and doing so with the same conviction as on the first day. These years have confirmed to me that, when cooperation becomes a driving force, the impact expands exponentially.

Celebrating this anniversary is not looking back with nostalgia, it is looking forward with determination. The value of cooperating is not just a strategic positioning; it is a living commitment to a more just, cohesive society, prepared to face the challenges to come. And if there is one thing I have learned on this path, it is that, when people are at the center, the future is not only imagined, it is built.