The Princess of Girona Foundation today held the presentation of the 2023 Princess of Girona School Award, which this year recognizes the benchmark in inclusive education of the Purísima Concepción Special Education Center, part of the Sisters Hospitallers and affiliated with the Hospitallers Foundation. The ceremony took place during H.M. the King’s visit to the facilities, where he learned firsthand about the center’s innovative methods to foster students’ integral development through a fully personalized approach. With special attention to diversity, their educational model has become a national reference thanks to the CeRA project (Specialized Center for Reference and Support).
Pilar Alegría, Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports; Juanma Moreno, President of the Andalusian Regional Government; Jesús Aguirre, President of the Andalusian Parliament; Pedro Fernández, Government Delegate in Andalusia; Marifrán Carazo, Mayor of Granada; Carmen Castillo, Minister of Educational Development and Vocational Training; Sister Fuencisla Martín, Provincial Superior of the Sisters Hospitallers; Alberto Martín, Managing Director of the Hospitallers Foundation; Francisco Belil, President of the Princess of Girona Foundation; Salvador Tasqué, General Director of the Princess of Girona Foundation; and Luís Carvajal, Head of the Foundation’s Education Task Force—among other local authorities, including Inma Garrido, director of the center—His Majesty toured various parts of the school to witness how the center empowers its students and promotes their well-being.
Throughout the tour—and within the framework of the CeRA project (Specialized Center for Reference and Support)—visitors were able to observe how the school supports students in addressing personal challenges related to cognitive, motor, communication, or emotional development. They visited several specialized classrooms, including the halotherapy room, where therapy is conducted through the inhalation of micro-particles of salt in a controlled environment that mimics the conditions of natural salt mines, and the hydrotherapy room, which uses the properties of water to improve mobility, muscle strength, balance, and coordination. They also explored the Black Light Room, designed to stimulate sensory development through ultraviolet light, sparking curiosity and enhancing sensory processing. The tour continued to the Independent Living Workshop, which prepares students to lead as autonomous a life as possible, and the Circular Economy Workshop, where students engage in sustainability practices by promoting the reuse and recycling of materials. In this space, H.M. the King discovered a canvas—created over the past few months by students using recycled materials—that replicates a photograph of the Royal Family.
The center’s director welcomed all attendees “to a place full of heart and passion, where the true protagonists are the children and adolescents who are here every day—you are our example to follow. We learn from each of you with every struggle, every step you take.” She also thanked the families, saying, “Together, we are a family. For us, the great challenges of each day have no limits.” “To the teachers, thank you for your enthusiasm, your commitment, and for believing in what we do—responding to each family, each child, with passion, a smile, and dedication every single day.” Lastly, she expressed her gratitude to the Sisters Hospitallers “for creating this center and for having the vision to believe in each person, to put them at the center, and to innovate.”
Alejandro, Alba, Nacho, and Javi, students from the center, took the stage to receive the award from His Majesty the King, who highlighted the example of “teachers whose dedication helps build a more inclusive, more equitable, and more empathetic society.” Finally, he celebrated not only the recognition itself but, above all, the invaluable impact of their work on so many lives.
Francisco Belil, President of the PG Foundation, emphasized, “This award, this year more than ever, recognizes the value of being a model of educational excellence in a field that had not yet been honored—special education and attention to diversity—which remains largely unknown.”
The ceremony included a musical performance by “Música desde dentro,” a group formed by alumni of CeRA Purísima Concepción. Afterwards, two artists from the “Art Generation” program of the Princess of Girona Foundation performed a couple of pieces focused on emotional well-being. The event concluded with a joint rendition of “Vuelvo a Granada” by Granada-born singer-songwriter Miguel Ríos.
During the day, young participants in the Foundation’s “Education Generation” program covered the event via the educational radio project “Voices That Teach,” working in parallel with the national radio program “RNE Mornings,” which broadcast live from the center.
Inclusivity and Equal Opportunity
“For its leadership in showcasing inspiring projects that advance a truly inclusive school through its CeRA project, focused on diversity, innovation in education, and mentoring other institutions, highlighting the strong, coordinated work of its management and teaching teams.” This was the jury’s statement when awarding the 2023 School of the Year Award to the Purísima Concepción Special Education Center.
Under the motto “I am capable, I am the protagonist”, this center builds its educational project on the foundation of the integral development of each person, guided by the conviction that inclusive education is a fundamental right—essential to ensuring identity, dignity, and well-being. It also serves as a key tool in achieving equal opportunity. In its classrooms, the center actively embraces diversity through innovative methodologies that foster student competencies and present meaningful challenges, empowering each student to take the lead in their own life, connect with others, become a vital part of their school and family communities, and participate fully and actively in society—regardless of their individual support needs. To support these goals, the school has also developed a number of digital applications designed to enhance areas such as executive functioning, motor and sensory development, attention, memory, language, reading, and math skills. But the center’s impact goes beyond its walls. It looks outward, striving to create broader social change. To this end, it shares its knowledge, tools, and experiences with professionals and educational institutions across all levels, raising awareness about the urgent need to transform educational practices and build a system grounded in inclusion and equity.
The 2023 Princess of Girona School Award was officially announced on June 6 at the Foundation’s headquarters in Girona. The jury of education experts was composed of Pilar Bahamonde, director of CEIP Gumersindo Azcárate (recipient of the 2022 award), who served as chair; Javier García, Director of Programs at the Botín Foundation; Elena Díaz, Head of Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs at Samsung Spain; Cristina Gomis, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Zurich Spain; José María Moncasi, Director of the Vertex Bioenergy Foundation; Elena Martínez, Dean of the School of Education at UNIR; María Victoria García, Director of Projects and External Relations at the Banc Sabadell Foundation; and Miriam Reyes, founder and director of Aprendices Visuales [Visual Learners] and Escuelas Visuales [Visual Schools], and recipient of the 2017 Princess of Girona Social Award.
School of the Year Award: A Benchmark for Educational Innovation
This center joins the community of past award-winning schools known for transforming education through entrepreneurial spirit and disruptive talent: CEIP Andalucía de Fuengirola (2018), Escuelas Profesionales Sagrada Familia de Écija – Fundación Peñaflor de Écija (2019), CRA Mestra Clara Torres de Tui (2020), Instituto de Educación Secundaria Ramón y Cajal de Zaragoza (2021) and CEIP Gumersindo Azcárate de León (2022).
With this award, the Princess of Girona Foundation honors pioneering educational institutions that are committed to fostering talent and driving educational innovation. Its goal is to create role models, cultivate leadership, and help transform the education sector in favor of a more inclusive and just society.
In addition to the recognition, winning schools receive a tailored training program and hands-on experiences in educational innovation, developed by the Princess of Girona Foundation for the center’s teaching staff.
The award itself is a bronze sculpture with a slate patina, designed by artist Juan Zamora, recipient of the 2017 Princess of Girona Arts Award. The piece symbolizes an open book.
