The financial institution CaixaBank, official sponsor of the Spanish Paralympic Committee since 2019, organized the fifth edition of its Empower Kids program in collaboration with the Gran Canaria Basketball Club. This initiative aims to introduce children to Paralympic sports and foster the normalization of disability from an early age, promoting values such as effort, inclusion, and respect.
The Gran Canaria Arena hosted this event, the first of 2026, bringing together about forty young athletes from the CB Gran Canaria youth academy. The special day focused on teaching and normalizing disability, with the participation of Raúl Vega, a member of the national wheelchair basketball team.
The event included activities that combined theoretical learning and sports practice, offering attendees an immersive experience. Manuel Afonso, territorial director of CaixaBank in the Canary Islands, and Sitapha Savané, president of CB Gran Canaria, highlighted the importance of such initiatives in normalizing disability and fostering a perspective that goes beyond limitations.
The session concluded with a practical dynamic where the young members of the CB Gran Canaria youth academy had the opportunity to participate in an adapted basketball game, guided and advised by Raúl Vega. This experience helped break down barriers and foster team spirit, emphasizing the importance of collective work beyond individual differences.
Raúl Vega shared his personal and athletic journey in wheelchair basketball, emphasizing the daily work, perseverance, and sacrifices required in high-level sports. His talk also highlighted the consistency needed to achieve goals both on and off the court.
Through actions like Empower Kids, CaixaBank reaffirms its commitment to building a more equitable society where diversity is not only recognized but celebrated. Sport acts as a catalyst for social change, integrating values of coexistence, tolerance, and respect, in line with the entity's foundational principles.
