The EDP Foundation Academy, aimed for entities of the Third Sector, has successfully completed its first edition. During its seven months duration, the 32 social organizations that have participated, have developed and strengthened their organizational capacities through different actions.

The entities, chosen among all other editions of the integral support program EDP Solidaria to participate in this academy, could keep their training sessions both on-site and online, about all areas that have an influence when coordinating activities with an NGO. The organizations come mainly from Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country and Madrid.

The presented topics have been diverse and cover almost entirely the daily life of the whole organization: human resource management, sustainable maintenance of the finances, the creation of a Social responsibility Plan, the adoption of measures that favor savings and energy efficiency, the fulfillment of the Data Protection Law or the launch of an efficient communication and marketing plan, have been some of the issues covered. The different courses were attended by almost 200 people, both on-site and online.

The main purpose of the EDP Foundation Academy is to help manage efficiently the resources of each organization, to expand thus its social impact.

As teachers, the NGOs have counted with EDP employees that are now active in some of those areas, and participate in the EDP Volunteering program, as well as with experts of the Stone Soup consultant.

Manuel Menéndez, president of the EDP Foundation, has given a master class as colophon of the Academy. During this course, he insisted on the fact that, in order to achieve strategy alliances that enrichen all parts, there should be an implication, not only of economical resources, but also of people, emphasizing in the fact that this human component is what reinforces the cohesion between the two organizations.

Vanda Martins, general director of the Foundation, pointed out that its goal is to give continuity to the initiative and expanding the issues that will be included in the future editions of the academy. She also affirmed that there is a possibility of exporting this training model to other countries where EDP operates. Martins highlighted as well that this initiative is an example of how the energy company can contribute to society.

The Academy completes now the activity of its first edition with tutoring, and in September, there will be personalized mentoring sessions for 5 of the participant NGOs.