Last Friday May 24, the Socrates Educa International School Salou held an event to pay tribute to the late Dr. Gabriel Ferraté i Pasqual. More than 500 people, including students, school staff, Foundation Board, Dr. Ferraté's family, authorities and guests, were present at the event held in the
school's Forum, which was full to bid farewell to who was founding patron of the Fundació Escola Internacional del Camp (now Socrates Educa
Foundation) and Honorary President. Among those present, the Mayor of Salou, Pere Granados; the councilor of Education for Salou, Júlia Gómez, and the
Second Deputy Mayor of the Reus City Council, Josep Baiges.
It was a very emotional event, remembering the figure of Dr. Ferraté and very focused on the Socrates Educa educational project, his last great project for
education, now pre-university, after having transformed university education.
The welcome was given by the Deputy Director of the SEIS, Hermínia Martí.
This was followed by a reading of poems by school students and, then the speeches of the President of the Socrates Educa Foundation, Xavier Gumà; the
Director of the SEIS, Jonathan Day, and the General Manager of the Socrates Educa Foundation, Jaume Vilella. Through their voices, but also with some of
the most symbolic elements of the school, an event was woven that included the participation of Dr. Ferraté's children and grandchildren.
After the speeches, a bust and a commemorative plaque were unveiled and a souvenir was presented to the relatives. With the bust, which can be seen in the
school Forum square, a computer keyboard with the letter “ç” was placed, just as it was done when the school's first stone was laid, to symbolise the
relationship between technology, language and country. In addition, the “ç” key was 3D printed during the event to remember the way of doing things that
Dr. Ferraté liked so much, breaking protocols and stereotypes and making technology appear everywhere and by surprise.
Another symbol of the tribute was the planting of a stone pine (species chosen by the Ferraté family) in the school's memory garden, an outdoor space
designed for reflection and calm.
The Mayor of Salou also addressed a few words to the audience, before the performance of the band and choir of SEIS, who performed a highly emotional
song.
