The San Juan de Dios Foundation, together with the San Rafael-Nebrija University Center, in collaboration with the Comillas Pontifical University and Juan Ciudad NGO, held its 4th Research Conference in Madrid on May 30 and 31 under the title "Innovation as a Tool for Social Transformation and Sustainability."
Over two days of work and debate, the objective was to raise awareness among various stakeholders about the need to participate in contributing to the United Nations 2030 Agenda. This roadmap, comprised of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has become a fundamental concept for countries' agendas and calls for the adoption of measures to help ensure social progress and sustainability worldwide by 2030.
Panel discussion on May 31. Photo: FSJD.
On Thursday, May 30, attendees participated in various training workshops on how to implement innovative educational methodologies in the classroom, how to design projects with social impact, and how students can contribute to achieving the SDGs. These included a workshop by Juan Ciudad NGO "Game Room Objective 2030," coordinated by Ana Caballero, the organization's representative in the Region of Murcia, located at the JesĂșs Abandonado Foundation, along with two other colleagues.
Two students from the San Rafael-Nebrija University Center during the ODS Game Room. Photo: JCONGD.
The second day featured various keynote addresses and roundtable discussions that presented innovative methodologies for social transformation, the challenge facing universities with the 2030 Agenda, health research projects with social impact, and the need to build partnerships, among other topics.
Two moments from the SDG Game Room, with the organizers from the JCONGD delegation in Murcia. Ana Caballero, JCONGD delegate from the Region of Murcia, first from the right. Photo: JCONGD.
Vanesa RodrĂguez, Director of Communications and International Relations for the Spanish Network of the United Nations Global Compact, was responsible for presenting the SDGs, emphasizing the need for the private and public sectors, civil society, and organizations to join the challenge and work together. She also stated that "social innovation makes more sense now than ever. It provides a different approach that allows us to achieve better results with fewer resources and is the best way to act within the framework of the 2030 Agenda."
Ana Meyer, project coordinator for Juan Ciudad NGO, also participated. She highlighted the role of community health as a contribution to SDG 3, among others, and gave as an example the project being developed by the San Juan de Dios Clinic in Iquitos in four human settlements located within its area of influence, in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. This initiative has served as a model for centers in other Latin American and African countries and is supported by the San Juan de Dios Foundation.
Ana Meyer, JCONGD Project Coordinator, during her presentation. Photo: FSJD.
Next, Eva LĂłpez, a public health expert and professor at the San Rafael-Nebrija University Center, explained how a telemedicine kit designed by Kerox Technology works. It will be a very useful support tool for the Iquitos community health project.
The meeting concluded with a presentation by Elena GarcĂa, Director of the Research Department at the San Juan de Dios Foundation, who expressed her satisfaction with the strong reception of this edition and emphasized that "education, innovation, research, and leadership are essential for our society to face the challenges posed by the SDGs. Now is the time to make the challenge posed by the United Nations a reality."
Ultimately, the event brought together a large number of experts and participants who reflected on and shared experiences regarding social innovation and sustainability, demonstrating the San Juan de Dios Foundation's commitment to promoting social transformation to build a better future.
Source: Press Release from the San Juan de Dios Foundation.
