What organisation do you volunteer with?
My wife and I volunteer for the Spinola Solidaria Fundation, a Spanish organisation that is focused on educating young people in poor communities in Latin America. Spinola Solidaria believes that education is a key factor in the development of individuals and communities.
What do you do with them?
My family (me, my wife and our three children) spent two summers (six weeks each summer) teaching children in Ecuador and Paraguay. We taught boys and girls of various ages, in subjects including Spanish, Maths and Physical Education. It was a wonderful experience for the whole family. For me, I loved spending time with the children during the breaks, when we talked about their lives and their relationships with friends and classmates. And while my wife and I were teaching, my children took part in lessons. They enjoyed it so much and made good friends during their time at the school.
How did you get involved with Spinola Solidaria?
Spinola Solidaria has an ongoing relationship with my children’s school. We wanted to travel as a family, so when they said we could also take the children, we then did a course to learn everything we needed to be a good volunteer. After three months training, we were prepared to work with children and to understand how to respond to their family problems, their relationship with their community, and how we could help them best.
Why is this organisation important to you?
Spinola Solidaria believes that education is a catalyst for other human rights and a fundamental vehicle to get out of poverty. Education is transformative and transversal: it helps reduce inequalities, empowers people, fosters tolerance and helps build more peaceful societies. I wanted to work with this organisation because they teach with the heart, and they care about the person above all.
Why do you think volunteering is important?
The work that these organisations do is essential to save the world, to save ourselves, and to save our Mother Earth, and I want to play my part in supporting them.
