In the framework of the IMPULSA Forum, which was inaugurated today, Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Asturias and of Girona presided over the prize-giving ceremony of the Prince of Girona Foundation Awards for young people showing entrepreneurial initiative. This year’s award winners are Auxiliadora Toledano (Arts and Literature), Catalina Hoffmann (Business), Oriol Mitjà (Scientific Research), Felipe Campos (Social) and the Novia Salcedo Foundation (Organisation).

The award ceremony was opened by Plácido Domingo. The tenor recommended that young people find their passion. “My passion is what has led me to spend more than 50 years realising my dreams. Passion, combined with discipline and responsibility, is something that you all have to consider when embarking on your careers.”

This was followed by the youth performance “L’impuls de la música”, given by Jaume Lleixà & the Jove Orquestra de les Comarques Gironines Ensemble, led by the violinist Elena Rey. During the performance, the soprano Barbara Hendricks made a surprise appearance with the band. To the rhythm of the music, with pieces especially dedicated to each of the awards, Jaume Lleixà explained that “if we unite talent, leadership and teamwork we will improve competitiveness.”

After receiving the award, Oriol Mitjà indicated, on behalf of all the award winners, that the awards “recognise the importance of young people as an innovative power and a driving force behind the transformations that today’s world needs.” “We find ourselves in a moment of great economic and social adversity. We all know that it won’t be easy! The crisis is particularly harsh on the young, and the rate of youth unemployment exceeds 50%. Young people have started to open doors in their search for a job market without borders. They carry the hated economic crisis in their backpacks as they head off to Europe or emerging countries, any thoughts of return to our country far off on the horizon”, he added speaking for all of the award winners.

H.R.H. the Prince of Asturias and of Girona highlighted, at the closing of the awards ceremony, that in this fourth edition of the IMPULSA Forum “We wanted to begin with our award ceremony. And I can think of no better way to start than by celebrating the talent of our award winners, as a prelude to an intense day full of messages, motivation, ideas and proposals that will be concentrated here during the IMPULSA Forum tomorrow.” After mentioning the merits of the award winners, he indicated that “they are an example of the need to foster a creative attitude in young people. We have the great fortune to live in a country in which creative initiatives arise almost naturally”, and therefore, “we cannot waste creative talent. It has already happened too often. We must strengthen enthusiasm, imagination and encourage young people’s creativity. We must ensure that their ideas, no matter how impossible they may seem, can come true, for their good and for the good of us all.” (see the entire speech attached).

With the aim of recognising the talent and efforts of young people who do extraordinary things in their areas, the Prince of Girona Foundation Awards promote research and creativity, solidarity and the professional development of young people with concerns, capable of taking risks and with the motivation to bring about changes in society.

Divided into four individual awards –addressed to young people aged between 16 and 35– and one organisation award, the 2013 Prince of Girona Foundation Awards were presented to:

• Auxiliadora Toledano (Prince of Girona Foundation Arts and Literature Award), for being a singular artiste with the ability to make a name for herself in the history of music thanks to her musical and performing talent.
• Catalina Hoffmann (Prince of Girona Foundation Business Award), a young entrepreneur who has applied innovation to a traditional sector and has achieved an important social impact by improving the quality of life of elderly people. The national and international growth of this business has been no obstacle to her continuing committment to the human values she promotes.
• Oriol Mitjà (Prince of Girona Foundation Scientific Research Award), in recognition of his exemplary dedication in the field of treating infectious diseases endemic in developing countries, and for the great international impact of his work to eradicate the disease yaws from the planet. 
• Felipe Campos (Prince of Girona Foundation Social Award), for his personal commitment to sustainable social work in the territory, his leadership skills, his exemplary attitude and his fight for equal opportunities for the most disadvantaged groups.
• Novia Salcedo Foundation (Prince of Girona Foundation Organisation Award), recognised for its impressive track record and extraordinary results in helping young people to integrate into the workplace with its specific and well defined programmes that cover a very broad range of actions.

The Prince of Girona Foundation Awards come with a prize of €10,000 and a reproduction of a sculpture by Juan Muñoz.