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. First-year secondary students from the Escola Andorrana centres in Encamp and Ordino are organising the event as the capstone of a cross-disciplinary project covering the circulatory system, physical and natural sciences, visual arts, and Catalan language.

The sessions will run from 11am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm each day. Bookings are available via the Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya website, with priority given to those with appointments. Organisers expect to accommodate walk-ins, anticipating around 10% no-shows and 10% disqualifications. The Andorran Red Cross, working with the Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya and SAAS on logistics, seeks to exceed last year's totals—reported across sources as between 436 and 1,453 attempts, with 1,280 successful donations.

Under the slogan "Donar sang és com un 2x1, dos cors bateguen gràcies a un", the students will greet donors, offer guidance, hand out information, promote participation, gather data, and record the event through photos. This marks a new venue for the campaign, enabled by the Comú d'Andorra la Vella, placing it centrally in the capital.

At Tuesday's presentation, Encamp students Astrid and Marc outlined preparations split between promotion—such as poster designs in visual arts and slogan development in Catalan—and blood science, including groups, compatibility, and restrictions like recent tattoos or piercings (within four months), pregnancy, recent surgery, travel to epidemic zones, or donations less than two months prior. Ordino students Èrica and Pablo detailed the process: a confidential questionnaire, 7-10 minute extraction, post-donation refreshments, blood testing, and separation into plasma, platelets, and red cells. They stressed eligibility criteria—aged 18-70, over 50kg, good health, CASS card, and ID—and noted one donation can save 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, linking classroom skills to real-world service. Joan Saurí, Andorran Red Cross secretary general, highlighted its solidary and educational roles, generational renewal through youth involvement, and multi-agency teamwork. He warned reserves are perpetually short—Catalonia needs 1,000 bags daily—urged widespread participation from families and neighbours, and envisioned future growth into bone marrow, organ, and cornea donations, aligning with government priorities. New posters feature a QR code for self-assessment quizzes, complemented by on-site medical checks.