Andorra Schools Launch 8th Annual Blood Donation Campaign

Andorra's schools have launched the eighth annual blood donation campaign, scheduled for January 21, 22, and 23, 2026, at the Centre Cultural de la Llacuna in Andorra la Vella. Organised in partnership with the Andorran Red Cross and the Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya, the event marks a shift to this new central location, facilitated by the Comú d'Andorra la Vella.

The drives will run from 11am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm each day, with priority for those booking via the Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya website, though walk-ins will be accommodated where possible. Organisers expect to fit in extra donors, accounting for typical no-shows and disqualifications.

First-year secondary students from the Escola Andorrana centres in Encamp and Ordino are spearheading the initiative under the slogan "Donar sang és com un 2x1, dos cors bateguen gràcies a un". It caps a cross-curricular educational project on blood and the circulatory system, covering physical and natural sciences, visual arts, and Catalan language. Students will manage logistics, including greeting donors, guiding visitors, handing out materials, promoting participation, gathering data, and photographing the event.

At Tuesday's launch event, students Astrid, Marc, Pablo, and Èrica outlined the preparations. Astrid described splitting efforts into publicity and blood knowledge, with slogan design in art classes and language work in Catalan. Marc highlighted lessons on blood groups, compatibility, and rules like recent tattoos barring donation. From Ordino, Èrica and Pablo detailed the process: a confidential questionnaire, a 7-10 minute extraction, post-donation refreshments, blood testing, and separation into plasma, platelets, and red cells. They stressed requirements—ages 18-70, over 50kg, good health, two-month gaps between donations, CASS card, and ID—and noted one donation aids up to three lives.

Olga Moreno, director general of Escola Andorrana, Formació Andorrana, and Formació Professional, called it a "consolidated success" embedded in Andorra's education system, applying classroom learning to real-world service. Joan Saurí, Andorran Red Cross secretary general, praised the generational renewal and multi-agency involvement, including SAAS logistics. He warned reserves are never sufficient—Catalonia needs 1,000 blood bags daily—urged community response, and flagged future expansions to bone marrow, organ, and cornea drives. New posters feature a QR code for self-assessment pre-tests, with on-site medical checks.

The Red Cross aims to exceed last year's 1,423 donations (1,280 successful), though some reports cited 436 or 1,453 totals aligned with prior years.