Transformem en Xarxa

The Transformem en Xarxa grant programme aims to strengthen the social and community fabric of the regions affected by the DANA through inter-associative projects. It is not a new programme created in response to the disaster, but rather a continuation of the trajectory of the Projects That Change the World grants.

The supported projects cover, among other areas, cultural and social development initiatives to reactivate community life; actions to preserve the natural environment focused on the recovery of flora and ecosystems; programmes to empower children and young people as agents of the present and the future; and support for vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities or older people, who have been particularly affected by the digital divide and the need to interact with public administration online.

The call is carried out in collaboration with companies committed to social transformation and pursues key objectives: fostering network-based collaboration among organisations to expand the reach and sustainability of projects, promoting local initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and strengthening the social and community fabric, with special attention to the areas most affected by the DANA.

Wellbeing Project

Some groups were particularly hard hit by the consequences of the DANA, exacerbated by the digital divide and the risk of loneliness. For this reason, with the support of the Vicente Ferrer Foundation, we launched the Wellbeing Project, focused on associations of older people and people with functional diversity, many of which lost their meeting spaces after the DANA of 29 October 2024.

Initially, the project provided support for the recovery of documentation and the most urgent administrative procedures. Over time, it has expanded to include support for the day-to-day management of associations, training in digital skills and advice on organisational and associative management, with the aim of strengthening these entities and ensuring their long-term sustainability and growth.

Salvem les Fotos

The DANA affected family memories, a heritage of great emotional value for those affected and also of collective importance. To preserve it, Salvem les Fotos was created, through which photographs from more than 460 families are being recovered at the Regional Museum. These images and albums document everyday life, social relationships, celebrations and the transformations of l’Horta Sud, and were seriously threatened by the storm.

The project supports families throughout the process of recovering their memories and protects a shared heritage, forming part of the Plan for the Recovery and Transformation of l’Horta Sud, which seeks to preserve the region’s cultural, identity-based and emotional legacy beyond material damage.

Salvem les Fotos is a project led by the University of Valencia, joined by the Network of Valencian Public Universities, l’ETNO, the Provincial Council of Valencia, the Mancomunitat de l’Horta Sud, the Fundació Horta Sud, GE-IIC, ACRE, ICOM, CANON, HOFFMAN, the Home Movie Network and other organisations.

Community Space

We believe that the strength of our territory and our community lies in the ability of associations and people to connect, collaborate and organise. During the second diagnostic phase and the distribution of computers in the first months after the DANA, many organisations expressed the need for a space to meet, carry out activities and work together. These contributions gave rise to the Community Space project.

With the support of the Princess of Girona Foundation, we have acquired premises and are currently refurbishing them. It will be a place for learning, coordination and mutual support, inspired by Resilience Hubs and designed to respond to the real needs of the community, share resources, exchange information and strengthen bonds of trust. We want it to become a reference point for the social fabric of l’Horta Sud and a key resource in the face of future emergencies.

Through this initiative, we aim to consolidate a strong network of associations and organisations that not only acts in times of need, but also shares knowledge, resources and experiences throughout the year, making cooperation and change inevitable.

Studies for Learning

Studying and analysing the experiences lived during the DANA is essential to transform lessons learned into useful and replicable knowledge.

Within this framework, the Fundació Horta Sud has carried out the study “Young People and Values: Towards a New Model of Transformative Solidarity”, which analyses the response of more than 500 young volunteers, outlining their profiles, motivations and forms of engagement, in order to identify new ways of fostering solidarity and active participation in the community.

In addition, a study is being conducted on the response of associations during the DANA, documenting how they acted, which strategies were most effective and which lessons can be applied to other territories. This work contributes to open knowledge and allows other communities to benefit from the lessons learned in crisis management.

Furthermore, case studies focused on the Fundació Horta Sud have been carried out, with the aim of collecting and systematising the experiences and good practices developed during the disaster. This set of studies provides a comprehensive view of how the community and organisations function, and establishes a solid foundation for future initiatives in social transformation and community solidarity.

Community Alliances

Community alliances emerge from active listening to the territory, based on identified needs, and from collaboration with companies and donor organisations to respond to the needs generated by the DANA. Within this area, four main projects are being developed: support for early childhood schools and music groups affected by the storm, in collaboration with Sin Noticias de Holanda – Riff Records; the improvement of school playgrounds in Catarroja by incorporating shade and natural elements, in collaboration with the company Forvia; the promotion of youth entrepreneurship projects together with the Princess of Girona Foundation; and coordinated actions with local councils, traders’ associations and companies to strengthen the local economy.