María Campuzano dies at 44, the activist who managed to prevent electricity from being cut off to families

Barcelona"No thirst, no cold, no darkness". These were the causes defended by Maria Campuzano, who passed away this Sunday at the age of 44 (she would have turned 45 in July), leaving behind a life dedicated to the fight for a more just and egalitarian society. The activist, spokesperson for the Alliance against Energy Poverty (APE) and a member of Engineers Without Borders, has been a benchmark in all battles for the rights to basic supplies, housing, and water. "She was our guide, the legacy she leaves us is to continue working, and we will think as Maria would have done, about her strength and example," explains Andrea Vides, a militant in these two organizations.

Campuzano, a law graduate, was part of the horizontal social justice movements born in response to the bursting of the real estate bubble and the mortgage crisis that 20 years ago left thousands of families homeless. As in her day, neighborhood organizations emerged from the affected people themselves, empowered – aware that if they didn't mobilize, they would sink – and with the support of professional activists who put their knowledge at the service of the cause. First, the battle focused on keeping people under a roof, and later, demands were added to prevent the most vulnerable from being left without light, water, and heating in winter.

In 2014, Campuzano was involved in the establishment of the APE, the organization that managed to stop supply cuts and led Endesa and the Generalitat to sign an agreement to forgive the debt of 25,000 families. "Her contribution has been fundamental to having law 24/2015 and regulations that protect the vulnerable," Vides emphasizes. Just a few weeks ago, she still participated in the organization's celebrations for its 11th anniversary.

Vides highlights that Campuzano "has looked out for both the personal and collective spheres" and has always been very attentive to people affected by power outages, assisting them in the bi-weekly advisory sessions organized by the APE. At the same time, she has been able to build international networks for the right to supplies. "Everyone loved Maria very much," the activist acknowledges.

Inspiration for the fight

Miquel Carrillo, a veteran of Engineering without Borders, also recalls how about twenty years ago he met a young Campuzano when she was hired by the NGO. "She had a very good job interview," he remembers, pointing out how she grew and went from being a textbook "shy" person who refused to speak in public to showing "her leadership ability and her knack for taking charge."

Today, her colleagues in the struggle remember her as a brave, fighter woman, who knew how to listen and was always present in all battles, whether on the streets or in the offices of institutions or energy companies. For a decade she has been the face of APE, amiable and always willing to answer the press's doubts and questions. In a joint statement from APE and Engineering without Borders, they remember Campuzano as a rock-solid, inspiring, and tireless activist, "who has managed to leave the world better than she found it, with a firm step and, at the same time, unprecedented sensitivity."

Campuzano's wake will open tomorrow, Monday, at 4 p.m. at the Dalt de Barcelona ring funeral home, and the farewell ceremony will be held at 6 p.m.