A group of 22 young people aged between 17 and 22 has begun the Volunteer Camp of Cáritas Diocesana de Madrid in La Hiruela, a two-week experience focused on community living and service to the rural community.
Their backpacks arrived filled with excitement and also with clothes. 22 young people have kicked off a new edition of the Volunteer Camp of Cáritas Diocesana de Madrid, which this year is taking place in La Hiruela, a small municipality in the Sierra Norte. Over the next two weeks, these boys and girls will share their time with elderly people, families, and neighbours of the region, in an experience that aims to go beyond mere assistance tasks.
A Diverse Group Eager to Learn
The participants come from different parts of the Community of Madrid, but also from Córdoba, Lugo, Santiago de Compostela, and even Portugal. Half of them are facing a volunteering experience for the first time; the other half have already collaborated on projects with the elderly, children, or in other fields of volunteering, both in Spain and abroad. Among the participants are students from high school, vocational training, and university, with profiles as varied as Psychology, Nursing, Social Integration, or Philosophy. This diversity, according to the organisation, will enrich the living together and shared work.
Integration into Rural Life
The programme is not limited to carrying out specific activities. Integration into the life of the rural environment is one of the pillars of the camp. The young people have already walked the streets of La Hiruela, met its inhabitants, and shared their first moments with the parish priest Fernando Sanz, from the Clerics of San Viator. The inaugural day concluded around the table, preparing dinner together and organising the living arrangements, with a prayer as the final touch. “Summer can also be a time to care, learn, and put life at the service of others,” Cáritas highlights.
Collaboration with the Elderly and Community Projects
During the coming weeks, the volunteers will collaborate with elderly people, people with disabilities, families, and neighbours of the region. They will also participate in community projects, discover rural development initiatives, and share spaces for training, reflection, and coexistence. The aim, according to the entity, is to demonstrate that volunteering is a way to build community and transform perspectives. For the residents of the Sierra Norte, this initiative represents a breath of fresh air and an opportunity for intergenerational exchange that, in many cases, breaks the solitude of the rural environment.
The young people are accommodated in facilities within the municipality and receive support from Cáritas monitors. The experience will conclude at the end of the month, and it is expected to leave a mark on both the participants and the inhabitants of La Hiruela. Those who wish to learn more about this initiative can visit the Cáritas Diocesana de Madrid website.
