(ANS – Madrid) – On 27 June at the “Conde Duque” Cultural Centre the Salesian community in Madrid paid homage to the Federation of the Pinardi Social Structures, which this year celebrates 10 years since its foundation. Fr Luis Onrubia, Provincial of Madrid, presided at the ceremony and the presentation of various awards.

Over 250 people took part in the event including many political, religious and civil leaders, as well as a large representation of Associations and businesses in Madrid.

“Pinardi has provided an injection of hope for society. A culture of hope spreading in the hearts of the young. Let us continue to respond effectively to the young hoping that one day it will no longer be necessary”, Fr Onrubia said. Afterwards the Provincial presented awards to several public institutions and businesses which have made the work of the Federation possible in the last 10 years:

• The Justice Commission of the Autonomous community of Madrid for the care provided in collaboration with the Pinardi Federation, to 3000 minors who had committed offences.
• The Committee for Business Affairs of the CaixaBank for its projects and the “La Caixa” Social work.
• The Head Office for Social Affair thanks to which over 1,150 people in danger of social exclusion have been included in work programmes for employment.
• The MasvitalZenter Company for its support of the Training Programme “In Company”.
• The Madrid Institute for Minors and the Family for the ADRIS programme and for day centres.
• The Person and Business Foundation and the BLC Group for the joint development of the Tutoring  Programme in socio-working skills which has trained 30 teachers.
• The Head Office for Immigration for its contribution to social and work integration for over 3460 young men and women immigrants in the Autonomous Community.
• The Head Office for Childhood, the Family and Voluntary Service in Madrid, for the creativity, commitment and social work undertaken through  the Volunteers for Madrid Foundation in the field of the Social Responsibility of Businesses.
• The Head Office of the Scholarship scheme of the Commission for Education and  Employment  for supporting the educational programmes offered by the Classes  for Educational Compensation and Programmes of Initial Professional  Qualification.

The event concluded with the words of Gabriel Fernández Rojas, former Deputy Councillor for Immigration and President of the Schools Commission of the Autonomous community of Madrid, who explained how collaboration and trust between the Institutions and the Pinardi Federation began at once and have been strengthened over the years: “In the course of these years I have been able to visit a number of these places and I can say that pride and gratitude are the sentiments we feel as Institutions.”

Published 05/07/2012