MAPFRE Foundation recognizes 100 thousand floors to play through its Social Awards

Santo Domingo.– Foundation MAPFRE awarded 100 thousand floors to play, the Award for the Best Project for its social impact, an award endowed with 40,000 euros that MAPFRE Foundation annually awards through its Social Awards to recognize the initiative that has generated the greatest impact on society in different areas. 100 thousand floors to play is a program to replace the dirt floors of 100,000 homes with concrete before 2028 throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In these regions, more than 50 million people live in poverty on dirt floors, a situation that directly affects their health, well-being, and development opportunities. This involves more than 10 million homes in inadequate conditions, especially in rural and marginal urban areas. Andrés Mejía, the top representative of the MAPFRE Foundation in the Dominican Republic, recognized Habitat for Humanity for the award given to its social project, which generates a positive impact on people’s lives.

“We celebrate your altruistic work that transforms the reality of families throughout the region,” he expressed.

This award will be received this coming October eighth by Cesarina Fabián, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Dominican Republic, from the hands of H.M. Queen Sofía, in an event to be held at the Casino de Madrid, Spain. Since its launch in 2022, the program has replaced more than 19,653 earthen floors, benefiting more than 98,265 people in 14 countries. In the Dominican Republic, where more than 69,000 families still live on earthen floors, 3,200 new floors have been built, positively impacting 9,927 people in 120 communities.

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100,000 homes to play is born from the hand of Habitat for Humanity and the Inter-American Cement Federation (FICEM). For the construction of the new floors, low-carbon concrete is used, produced locally with recycled materials, which reduces carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions, generates community employment and strengthens homes against natural disasters. According to studies conducted by Habitat for Humanity after the implementation of 100,000 homes to play, families who received a concrete home experienced a 79% reduction in medical expenses (78% reduction in parasitic infections in children, 49% in diarrhea and 81% in anemia). Regarding mental and emotional health, a decrease in stress and an improvement in self-esteem associated with having more dignified and safe housing were recorded. Children increased their hours of play within the home by 80%, and school absenteeism was reduced by 15%, favoring cognitive development by up to 96%.

Habitat and FICEM

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization present in more than 70 countries, which has allowed more than 46 million people to access decent housing since 1976. FICEM, for its part, brings together cement companies in the region and leads sustainable and socially responsible construction initiatives.