Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Pilar Figueras Bellot, and our tribute to her, who served as our Secretary General from 1994 to 2012.

Pilar, an international Catalan, always advocated for education as a tool for personal and community development and promoted the movement of Educating Cities, bringing it to cities across five continents.

It was in 1986 when Mayor Maragall tasked Pilar with developing a proposal that linked the concepts of city and education. With this mandate, Pilar organized the First International Congress of Educating Cities in 1990. This initiative opened the doors and windows of the city of Barcelona to share its initiatives and broaden perspectives. The Charter of Educating Cities is one of the fruits of this first Congress, as the International Bank of Experiences is. The participating cities found this new concept very inspiring and called for new opportunities to continue learning together and exchanging initiatives and experiences. Thus, in 1994, the International Association of Educating Cities (IAEC) was formalized, which, thanks to Pilar’s drive, dedication, and passion, knows no bounds today and continues to grow, showing the world a different way of understanding education in the city.

All of this is part of Pilar Figueras Bellot’s legacy after so many years at the head of the Secretariat and having been the main driving force behind this Association. The IAEC will always remember Pilar’s Legacy and will honor her commitment and enthusiasm for education.