Fundación MAPFRE Recognizes 100,000 Playgrounds Through Its Social Awards

Since its creation in 2022, the program, promoted in the country by Habitat Dominicana, has built 3,200 new homes, positively impacting 9,927 people in 120 communities.

Santo Domingo, September 16, 2025 – Fundación MAPFRE awarded 100,000 floors to play on the Best Project Award for its social impact, a €40,000 prize that Fundación MAPFRE grants annually through its Social Awards to recognize the initiative that has generated the greatest impact on society in various areas.

100,000 floors to play on is a program to replace the dirt floors of 100,000 homes with concrete by 2028 throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In these regions, more than 50 million people live in poverty on dirt floors, a situation that directly affects their health, well-being, and development opportunities. This represents more than 10 million homes in inadequate conditions, especially in rural and marginalized urban areas.

Andrés Mejía, head of the MAPFRE Foundation in the Dominican Republic, recognized Habitat for Humanity for its social project, which generates a positive impact on people’s lives. “We celebrate their altruistic work that transforms the reality of families throughout the region,” he said.

This award will be received this coming October 8 by Cesarina Fabián, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Dominican Republic, from Her Majesty Queen Sofia, at a ceremony to be held at the Casino de Madrid, Spain.

About the Program

Since its launch in 2022, the program has replaced more than 19,653 dirt floors, benefiting more than 98,265 people in 14 countries. In the Dominican Republic, where more than 69,000 families still live in dirt floors, 3,200 new floors have been built, positively impacting 9,927 people in 120 communities.

100,000 floors to play on is a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Inter-American Cement Federation (FICEM). Low-carbon concrete, produced locally with recycled materials, is used to build the new floors, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, generating community employment, and strengthening homes against natural disasters.

Health, Economic, and Social Well-being Benefits

According to studies conducted by Habitat for Humanity after the implementation of 100,000 play floors, families who received a concrete floor experienced a 79% reduction in medical expenses (a 78% reduction in parasitic infections in children, a 49% reduction in diarrhea, and an 81% reduction in anemia).

Regarding mental and emotional health, a decrease in stress and an improvement in self-esteem were reported, associated with having more decent and safe housing. Children increased their playtime at home by 80%, and school absenteeism decreased by 15%, promoting cognitive development by up to 96%.

Habitat and FICEM

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization present in more than 70 countries, which has enabled more than 46 million people to access decent housing since 1976. FICEM, for its part, brings together cement companies in the region and leads sustainable and socially responsible construction initiatives.