Surgeon Carlos Bardají Receives the Navarra Volunteer Distinction for More Than 25 Years of Altruistic Care for Thousands of Children in Africa
Paediatric surgeon Carlos Bardají today received the 2025 Navarra Volunteer Distinction for more than 25 years of altruistic care for thousands of African children through the NGO Hope and Progress, which he founded himself.
The First Vice President and Minister of Presidency and Equality, Félix Taberna, and the Vice President of the Navarra Volunteer Council, Natalia Herce, presented this recognition during the second day of the 24th National Volunteer Congress, which this Wednesday and Thursday brings together in Pamplona / Iruña the main actors in voluntary action at local, regional and national level. The Congress is promoted by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda in collaboration with the regional government, and its organisation has also involved the Spanish Volunteer Platform, the Navarra + Voluntaria Platform—managed by the public company NASERTIC—as well as Navarrese volunteer organisations.
Vice President Taberna also visited the second Navarra Volunteer Festival, which coincides today with the Congress and brings together representatives of more than 70 associations at Baluarte. Held under the slogan “The pulse that unites us, the intelligence that moves us,” the event is organised by the Government of Navarra in collaboration with Pamplona / Iruña City Council, the Social Action unit of Caja Rural de Navarra, Fundación Caja Navarra and Voluntariado Caixabank.
Also taking part in the visit were Joseba Asiain, Director General of Presidency, Open Government and Relations with Parliament; José Ángel Andrés, President of Fundación Caja Navarra; Juan Mari Ayechu, representative of the Social Action Area of Caja Rural de Navarra; and Elian Peña, Director of the Area of Equality, Community Action, Neighbourhoods, Citizen Participation and Basque Language at Pamplona City Council.
Extensive track record as a medical aid worker in Africa
Vice President Taberna highlighted Bardají’s extensive track record as a medical aid worker in Africa, leading a team of professionals who periodically travel to Senegal and The Gambia to provide free surgical care to children with congenital malformations, tumours or burn injuries.
Thanks to the continued efforts of the medical teams led by Bardají, thousands of African children have been able to access quality healthcare and improve their well-being. With this distinction, the Government of Navarra wished to recognise “work that combines professionalism, solidarity and hope,” in line with the founding objectives of the NGO Hope and Progress, established by Bardají in 2012.
Dr Bardají began his humanitarian work in Africa in 1999, when he took part in a mission to The Gambia to operate on children with cleft palate. Following that experience, he decided to establish Hope and Progress to continue and expand his work. Since then, the NGO has carried out more than 46 missions to African countries such as The Gambia, Senegal and Burkina Faso. Across these missions, the NGO’s volunteers have operated on more than 1,500 children, improving their quality of life and future prospects.
In addition to surgical operations, the NGO also works to improve healthcare infrastructure in the countries where it operates. It has refurbished operating theatres, acquired surgical and medical equipment, and trained local medical and nursing staff. It also promotes a programme to install lightweight incubators in neonatal units at regional hospitals in Senegal, as well as a programme to produce upper-limb prostheses using 3D printing.
National awards, including an extraordinary distinction for the volunteers who responded to the DANA
Today’s programme also included the presentation of several awards at the 24th National Volunteer Congress. This year’s Extraordinary Award went to the volunteers who responded to the emergency caused by the DANA recorded in the Valencian Community in October 2024. The award was received by Miguel Salvador, President of the Voluntariat Platform of the Valencian Community.
The National Award for Individual Volunteering went to María Sánchez Miaja, President of the Association of Progressive Women of Ceuta. The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) received the National Award for a Volunteer Organisation; it was accepted by Jesús Fernández, President of YMCA, and Mª Elena Pérez, a member of its board.
The National Award for a Volunteer Programme went to “Participa con Tomillo,” an initiative by Fundación Tomillo that supports each volunteer from the first contact through to their integration into projects. The award was accepted by Belén Gómez, Head of Volunteering at Fundación Tomillo.
Finally, the National Research Award on Volunteering was granted to Julia Sánchez for the study “Determinants and Consequences of Participation in Volunteer Organisations in Middle and Old Age in Europe.”
66 exhibitors and 25 activities at the 2nd Navarra Volunteer Festival
In parallel, the 2nd Navarra Volunteer Festival taking place today at Baluarte has been conceived as an opportunity to celebrate, share and highlight the commitment of thousands of people who make volunteering a powerful tool for social transformation. Admission is free, with the aim of showcasing the work of the organisations and how to join this great solidarity network.
The Festival is held in a 3,000-square-metre exhibition area, bringing together more than 70 organisations, with 66 exhibitors and 25 activities for children and adults. Activities take place from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00.
The day combines talks and exhibitions with creative activities and participatory dynamics. Sarean Mujeres en Red opens the programme with a storytelling session. Civil protection specialists will showcase their response equipment with live demonstrations. Outdoors, therapeutic rides will take place on adapted tricycles designed to transport older people or those with reduced mobility. Fundación Itaka will facilitate a space to build inclusion networks; DYA Navarra will run haemorrhage-control demonstrations; and ADACEN will provide guidance on stroke prevention, as well as setting up a virtual-reality circuit on accident prevention.
Among the scheduled talks and discussions are the presentation by Asociación Navarra Nuevo Futuro on the “Relationship between volunteering and employment” in the format of a radio programme, and SETEM Navarra’s session “Fair Consumption: Get the App,” which will present a mobile application with tools and local resources to support more responsible consumption. In the afternoon, the same organisation will offer the demonstration “Fair Chocolate—Can You Taste the Difference?”
Proclade Yanapay will present the podcast “Climainfluencers: We Act for the Climate,” and Douze Solutions will deliver the session “The Exodus of Afro Peoples in Culture and Environment.” Medicus Mundi will take part with the talk “Human Rights Seek Refuge—Welcome Them!”, ASNOVA will address volunteering and lifestyles, and the Amagintza Association will dispel myths and answer questions about breastfeeding. San Juan de Dios Hospital will host a discussion on unwanted loneliness.
Practical activities include a badge-making workshop led by Centro Río Irati and a cuajada (curd dessert) workshop organised by Fundación Ulzama 2013. Amnesty International will lead board games, and the education and e-learning team E-TIC will run a digital well-being escape room.
Fundación ESPES will offer a dance session with rhythms from around the world, and the Retina Navarra Association will lead a circuit using simulation glasses and canes. The Red Cross environmental team will provide advice to help people understand their electricity bills and adopt smarter energy consumption. ADACEN will also set up a virtual-reality road-safety and accident-prevention circuit.
For children, there will be clowns from “Sembrando Ilusiones,” along with face painting and balloon modelling by Acción Social Betesda Navarra. The FRIDA Association will run an arts and crafts workshop.
The organisations gathered at Baluarte reflect the diversity of volunteering across fields such as social action, culture, sport, education, health, environment, international cooperation, civil protection and emergencies. Inclusive activities include rides for people with reduced mobility, and there are spaces designed to build cultural networks.
The event brings together social organisations and volunteers in an open, public space with activities for all ages: information stands, participatory workshops, live music and performances, meeting and reflection spaces, and children’s and family activities.
The Festival seeks to strengthen the associative fabric, encourage new volunteer vocations and publicly recognise the work of those who devote their time to building a fairer, more inclusive and more supportive Navarra.
At the stands, organisations showcase their mission and values, present projects with social impact, offer information on how to volunteer, and share interactive materials such as workshops, games and demonstrations. There are also spaces to connect with other people and organisations, fostering collaboration networks and making the strength of volunteering more visible.
Source: navarra.es
