Barça Women visit children in hospital and in care centres in Barcelona
The first team players from the FC Barcelona women's team visited various children's hospitals in the Barcelona and, as they did last year, various Generalitat de Catalunya care centres for children. This community event is organised each year by the FC Barcelona Foundation during the Christmas and New Year period as part of its Emotional Welfare programme. The chance to see, meet and talk to the blaugrana players is a moment of extraordinary joy and happiness for the children and young adults who are going through a difficult time over the holidays.
The blaugrana party, led by vice president for the Institutional Area, Elena Fort and by the vice president of the Economic Area, Eduard Romeu, as well as various member of the board and governors from the Foundation, left the Ciutat Esportiva in several coaches to make their way to the various hospitals and care centres.
During the visits the players spent time with the children signing autographs and taking selfies as well giving out gifts to bring smiles and joy to the faces of the youngster who are in some cases suffering from serious illnesses. The visits are made as part of the community initiative 'Christmas all year' which in turn is part of the FC Barcelona Foundation's Emotional Welfare project. Aware of the ability of FC Barcelona and its sportspersons to be a positive influence on children in hospital, the Foundation organises periodical visits to various children's hospitals in Barcelona.
Centres for children in care
As in 2023, the players visited several centres for children in the care of the 'Direcció General de l’Atenció a la Infància and l’Adolescència' (DGAIA), a department of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The centres offer temporary residence to minors under the age of 18 who find themselves in socially vulnerable situations (welcome centres), and children and young adults taken from the family home as their educational needs are not being met (Centres Residencials d’Acció Educativa-CRAE).
The players' arrival to the various centres was an important and emotional moments for the children and young adults. During the visits they had the chance to meet the Barça Women players, take photographs with them and also receive gifts. For the players, meeting the children and young adults is always a unique and enriching experience.
The following hospitals and centres were visited:
- Hospital Sant Joan de Déu: Aitana Bonmatí, Keira Walsh, Esmee Brugts, Vicky López and Jonathan Giráldez.
- Hospital Vall d’Hebron: Marta Torrejón, Caroline Graham, Irene Paredes, Asisat Oshoala and Martina Fernández.
- Hospital de Sant Pau: Patricia Guijarro, Clàudia Pina and Lucía Corrales.
- Hospital Trias i Pujol: Mariona Caldentey, Sandra Paños, Gemma Font and Giulia Dragoni.
- Hospital HM Nens: Fridolina Rolfo and Bruna Vilamala.
- Kirikú: Lucy Bronze and Ona Batlle.
- Centre d’Acollida Kairós: Ingrid Engen and Jana Fernández.
- CRAE Collserola: Cata Coll and Salma Pallaruelo.