On Sunday November 13, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain arrived in Valladolid to participate in the 2011 Global Microcredit Summit.

The 2011 Global Microcredit Summit is an important meeting held at a time of crisis with global implications. This year numerous heads of state and government, experts and representatives of national and international working in the fight against hunger and poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are in attendance.

On Monday 14, in the morning, Her Majesty Queen Sofia arrived at the Centro Cultural Miguel Delibes, where she was greeted by President of the Junta de Castilla y León, Juan Vicente Herrera, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Trinidad Jimenez, president of the Castile and Leon, Maria Josefa Garcia Cirac, the government delegate in the autonomous community of Castilla y León, Miguel Alejo, the mayor of Valladolid, Francisco Javier Leon de la Riva, the Secretary of State International Cooperation, Soraya Rodríguez, Muhammad Yunus and the director of the Campaign of the Microcredit Summit Campaign, Sam Daley-Harris. She then came into the building and was greeted by Secretary General for Social Policy and Consumer Affairs, Maria Isabel Martinez Lozano, president of the Provincial Council of Valladolid, Jesus Carnero, President of the Institute of Official Credit, José María Ayala and Citigroup Inc. vice president, Lewis B. Kaden.

During the event Queen Sofia gave a speech in which she noted that reliance on Spain for the organization of the Summit (rough translation):

…confirms the important place that our country has achieved worldwide in the role of microfinance, as this is not in vain the first global summit to be held on European soil… there is no doubt that microfinance is absolutely essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals set by United Nations and especially the number one goal, which aims to have the proportion of people with incomes below a dollar a day in 2015, and as a sign of confidence from Spain in the role of microfinance is that in just ten years, our country has become the second largest donor worldwide, with 713 contributions million Euros.

The queen ended her speech noting that the Global Microcredit Summit does not arise only as a forum for discussion and exchange of experiences, but aims to promote two basic goals:

1. To achieve that 175 million families access to basic financial services by the end of 2015.
2. To have 100 million of the world’s poorest families improve their income above the threshold of one dollar a day.

To watch a video as well as to view photos please click the links below:

• VIDEO 
• Gallery One

Source and photo courtesy of Casa de Su Majestad el Rey

Her Majesty Queen Sofia presented the 2011 King James I Awards on October 19, 2011, to distinguished scientists and researchers in the fields of basic research, Economics, Medical Research, Environmental Protection, New Technologies and Entrepreneur, respectively.  The winners were Oscar Marin Parra, Daniel Peña Sánchez de Rivera, Carlos Simon, Sixto Malate, José Alonso, and entrepreneur José Javier Chamorro Rebollo.

 The King Jaime I Awards were created in 1989 by the Generalitat Valenciana and the Valencia Foundation for Advanced Studies, under the honorary presidency of His Majesty the King, with the aim of combining, in studies and research, scientific and business entities to promote research and scientific development in Spain. The prize is worth 100,000 euros, gold medal and diploma. The winners are invited to join the High Consultative Council on Research and Development of the Presidency of the Generalitat Valenciana, created in 1998. Its purpose is to advise the President of the Generalitat Valenciana in research, development and technological innovation, and develop reports, presentations and opinions.

Source and photo courtesy of: Casa de Su Majestad el Rey

On October 18, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain participated in the UNICEF conference held at the Hotel Westin Palace in Madrid.  Per the official website for the royal house, Casa de Su Majestad el Rey:

During the event Her Majesty Queen Sofia was accompanied by Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Soraya Rodriguez Ramos, president of the Spanish Committee for UNICEF, Consuelo Crespo and the Board and representatives of UNICEF Spain.

 The Queen was in charge of opening the session and gave the floor in turn to the president of UNICEF, the head of UNICEF Immunization in Afghanistan, Carmen Garrigós, UNICEF Representative in Liberia, Isabel Crowley, UNICEF Representative in the Dominican Republic, Maria Jesus Conde, Secretary of State for International Cooperation and UNICEF Executive Director Spain, Paloma Escudero. After the round of speeches proceeded to the projection of an institutional video from UNICEF.

 UNICEF aims to ensure that they meet the children’s rights to health, education and protection worldwide. It is the leading international organization working to promote child rights and make real changes in the lives of millions of children. Its work is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the treaty most widely ratified human rights in the world.

 Since the end of the Spanish Civil War until the mid-1940s, Spain experienced a very difficult time. The infant mortality rate was 142 deaths per 1,000 births vivos.Debido this situation, Spain requested the assistance of UNICEF. In 1954 in New York signed an agreement between UNICEF and Spain to meet the needs of children in our country. The first aid program, the plan ASA (American Social Assistance), starts that year and is sending millions of kilos of milk powder, essential for growing children.

 On April 12, 1961, a group of people aware of the needs of children and UNICEF’s work created the Association of Friends of UNICEF, which was financed through the sale of Christmas cards. In 1964, delegations had the cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, thanks to the 240 partners of UNICEF Spain

UNICEF Spain is one of 36 national committees that contribute to the work of United Nations Fund for Children. Today, with the support of 242,000 members, along with donors, companies and public administrations. In these 50 years, UNICEF Spain has contributed more than 516 million euros to change the lives of thousands of children. source

To view photos from the conference please click here. 

Source and photo courtesy of: Casa de Su Majestad el Rey