Fundación Telefónica
Fundación Telefónica seeks to contribute to social development through quality education. In 2008, it invested €69.2 million in 3,565 projects, which benefited over 40 million people.
The Foundation develops five large-scale cross-border programmes: EducaRed, Proniño, Telefónica Volunteers, Debate and Knowledge, and Art and Technology.
The Foundation develops five large-scale cross-border programmes: EducaRed, Proniño, Telefónica Volunteers, Debate and Knowledge, and Art and Technology.
- EducaRed: aimed at improving education by means of new technologies. Its portal, EducaRed.net contains tools, educational contents and programmes, and instruments for collaboration. With 32.5 million unique visitors, it is a Spanish-language benchmark, present in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, Peru, and, since 2008, in Venezuela. The programme also develops on-site didactic activities, forums, and debates. Last year, it continued to expand its reach through agreements with international bodies and by collaborating with Proniño in the 13 countries in which that programme is implemented.
- Proniño: seeks to help eradicate child labour through comprehensive protection and continuous, quality schooling for children and working adolescents. In 2008, it provided schooling for 107,602 children, doubling its number of beneficiaries in Latin America for the third year in a row. During the year, the experience gained from the EducaRed model was applied to providing teachers, students and families with the necessary technological tools for guaranteeing access to quality learning and teaching processes. Thus, in Proniño educational centres, 74 “Telefónica Foundation Classrooms” were set up with computers and connectivity; the “EducaRed Channel for Proniño Teachers” was launched, in which 25 training modules were developed; and the “Education Technology Service Centre” was implemented, providing teachers with qualified and personalised service.
- Telefónica Volunteers: 21,807 employees took part in the Corporate Volunteering programme in 2008. Once again, Proniño and groups at risk of social exclusion were awarded the lion's share of volunteer time this year, which amounted to 341,109 hours. In 2009, the synergies between Proniño and EducaRed will be promoted, along with projects like “Solidarity Holidays” and "Friend Schools", an initiative that allows schools to share experiences over the internet. Furthermore, elderly former employees will be incorporated and the Volunteer Programme for Telefónica Europe will be created, in which around 1,000 employee volunteers devoted nearly 6,000 hours to benefit activities in 2008.
- Debate and Knowledge: is concerned with knowledge creation related to the Information Society and its social impact. With its studies and research projects it contributes to a better understanding of relevant aspects of ICTs in the present day. In addition it carries out debate and analysis activities, as well as extensive informative work: in 2008, the publishing house Colección Fundación Telefónica / Ariel published 14 new titles. During the year it also improved its website, making it into an interactive forum; it also promoted the magazine "TELOS".
- Art and Technology: Fundación Telefónica disseminates contemporary art and culture by linking the artistic vanguard and technological innovation through collections, exhibitions, the VIDA awards and arsVirtual. It also manages Telefónica's artistic, historical and technological heritage. In 2008 it organised 31 shows in Spain and Latin America, including temporary and travelling exhibitions and collaborations. In total, the foundation's art and technology activities benefited 4.7 million people, a 125% increase over 2007.