This year, for the first time, the Blas Infante Award ceremony in Casares coincided with the town's Andalucia Day celebrations on Sunday, 28th February.

These annual awards are a tribute to the town's most famous son, Blas Infante whose campaign for Andalucian self-determination has lead to him being know as 'The Father of Andalucia'. In the spirit of his memory a percentage of the town's annual budget is awarded to projects both in Spain and overseas that celebrate his dream to eliminate social and geographical inequalities.

This year eight non-governmental organisations shared a total prize fund of €91,000 which went to awards in the categories: 'Casares for Andalucia', 'Casares for Spain' and 'Casares for Humanity', covering projects in Chile, Honduras, Nicaragua, Gambia, Sierra Leone,Guatemala, and the Campo de Gibraltar.

Blas Infante Awards

Casares for Andalucía - 13,650€ for the project “Forward Campo de Gibraltar” presented by the  Regional Directorate of  “Alternativas”, from San Roque. This project aims to develop youth integration in society, teaching humanitarian values, attitudes and interests.

Casares for Spain - 13,650€ for the project “Ten Towns with Africa”, presented by the Straits Centre for Cultural Exchange  “Al Tarab”, of Tarifa. For creating an awareness amongst the Spanish population of the reality of life in Africa through the media of cinema, promoting an awareness, understanding, tolerance and respect for other cultures.

Casares for Humanity - 16,421€ for the project: “Improving the economic situation for the poorest Mapuch communities, through the training of 240 women from the communities of  Cañete, Contulmo and Tiruain the Aruco Province of Chile to create a clothes manufacturing workshop. Presented by 'Action for Development and Equality' based in Madrid. This project aims to achieve development and empowerment of indigenous women leading to a sustainable life of dignity.

A number of awards are also presented under the heading 'Casares in Solidarity':

• 12,886€ efor a project to 'Introduce new foods and sources of nutrition to the daily diet of the indigenous Miskito and Tawahco communities of Wampusirpi, Honduras' presented by the 'Sid Moskitia Foundation' of Sabadell.
• 10,805€ for the project: "Support for universal schooling for the children of the rural communities of Esteli, Nicaragua' presented by the Mas Vida Foundation of Zaragoza. This project sets out to contribute to the improvement of education, nutrition and health of young Nicaraguans in the rural communities of Esteli.
• 9,720€ for '20km from the Future' presented by the Nakupenda Sana Association of Fuengirola. Fighting for the rights of women, particularly girls, providing education so that they can shape their own future.
• 2,461€ for a project for 'Construction of toilet facilities at the primary school in Kakola, northern Sierra Leone' presented by The Promise Foundation of Madrid, improving the quality of life in one of the poorest areas of one of the world's poorest countries.
• 11,405€ for the continuation of the project for the 'Improvement of living conditions for the people of San Miguel de Uspantan, Guatamala, through the construction of ovens in their homes' presented by Seville's Dr Madrazo Foundation, enabling better cooking facilities thus improving diet and health amongst this poor community.