A few days before the holding of the International Conference of Renewable Energies in Madrid, the contest “Elegimos la Tierra”, a project by EDP, has gathered more than 900 children between 8 and 12 years old in the EDP Theater Gran Vía. On the occasion of the World Environmental Education Day, celebrated in January, the energy company has launched the first school competition to get to know the best initiatives from children to make their schools, and therefore, the world, more sustainable.

Kids, from 15 different schools, were the main characters on an event that aimed to raise awareness among the youngest in terms of sustainability, contributing thus to a correct energy transition. The most innovative ideas have gained a foothold in the gala, revealing a strong commitment from both the children and their teachers. Nevertheless, although all proposals were of great value within the framework of sustainability, the winner has been the school Ponce de León, bilingual in sign language. Thanks to their proposal in video format, that included ideas as original as the waste collection to fertilize the garden, the manufacturing of curtains with recycled elements to avoid the excessive heat in classrooms, or the creation of a special posters to raise awareness about the efficiency of lighting.

As a result of this victory, the school, located in the neighborhood Orcasitas, will be the one receiving as a prize a photovoltaic installation in its center, creating thus a sustainable educational area.

The jury of experts in the field of sustainability in charge of choosing the winning school was made up of Miguel Rodrigo Gonzalo, Head of Regulatory Framework and Corporate Strategy at IDEA; Cristina Moreno, Director of Communications at UNEF; Rafael del Río, Technical Director of AEDIVE; Carmen Monforte, journalist at Cinco Días and Clara Jiménez-Becerril, Head of Climate Change and Circular Economy at Forética.

Carmen Fernández, EDP Spain’s director of Branding and Communication, points out that “the level of the initiatives has been very high. Currently, youngsters are conscious about sustainability. However, it is essential to keep motivating new generations in the care and respect towards the environment. With initiatives like this, we want to highlight the fact that, with the collaboration of everyone, young and old, we can leave a better planet".

Finally, apart from choosing a winner proposal, all participants in the theater could collaborate and do their own bit in the composition of the manifesto, that collected the main petitions from children to improve the planet, and that is expected to be handed out to the participants in the International Conference of Renewable Energies that will take place on Madrid from February 20 to 23.

The finalists schools have been: Colegio Cenit, Colegio Santo Ángel de la Guarda, Colegio Jesús Maestro, Colegio Altair Internacional, Colegio La Purísima, Colegio Joaquín Dicenta, Colegio Los Olmos, Colegio Mirasierra, Colegio República de Ecuador, Colegio Sagrado Corazón, Colegio Tierno Galván, Colegio Ponce de León, Colegio Uruguay, Colegio Virgen Milagrosa y Colegio Teresa Berganza.