The Costa del Sol … a unique location in the south of Spain that thousands of people choose as their holiday destination, when the summer comes to an end the seasonal tourists return home with renewed energies. In Marbella, Estepona, Benalmadena, Malaga, … in every wonderful cities along the Costa del Sol we find different types of organizations dedicated in body and soul to lend a helping hand in as many ways as possible. If you have thought about volunteering and have free time to dedicate to a non-profit organisation there are many places you can go to and become fulfilled by knowing you are helping the community. The first thing that you will be asked is what type of interests you have and how much time you would like to dedicate to volunteering as there are many options to choose from.
On the Malaga coast we can find social assistance centres such as Bancosol, which after the financial crisis of 2008 their workload expanded to such a level it became the second largest network to support families in crisis, following behind their direct families and offering food banks, clothing and job searching. Support is also provided to minorities such as foreigners, people from different sexual orientations, homeless people etc… The list volunteer work extends to working with children, helping the elderly, environmental and animal, cultural themes, sports and healthy living, groups affected by disabilities and emergency volunteers including events in cities.
Marbella Unique Properties wants to highlight some of the great work done in the cities along the Costa del Sol, listing centres and associations praising their work and give them the recognition they truly deserve.
With regard to volunteering with animals on the Costa del Sol there are 2 great companies that come to mind: ‘Triple A’ and ‘Adana’. The group of ‘Friends of Abandoned Animals’ (Triple A) is located on the Ojén-Marbella road at kilometre point 33. In 1992, its founders took their first stray animals into their own home and in 1998 they signed an agreement with the City of Marbella to make use of an abandoned house, which was adapted to accommodate their animals and is now the Triple A main location. They take care of and protect homeless animals and in turn try to find a new forever home for each and every one. The shelter currently houses 400 dogs and 150 cats, and they work in collaboration with shelters in Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Finland and Sweden so to be able to house as many pets as possible. The next animal shelter that we would like to point out is Adana, they are in charge of the care of abandoned animals and help implement animal rights in Estepona although they are not able to shelter cats they collaborate with other specific centres with regard to finding cats homes. They share the same values as Triple A, looking for to help animals and to educate people with informative campaigns on the sterilization of pets and increasing general awareness towards animals of all shapes and sizes. You can help both of these non-profit associations by giving donations, by asking for a membership card, by getting to know them, by helping them walk their dogs or by helping renovate certain areas in the shelters.
One of the most acclaimed foundations on our coast is the Cudeca Foundation, located on Cosmo Avenue in Arroyo de la Miel. They specialize in the arduous battle against cancer. What began in 1991 as a small outpatient consultancy has given way to one of the most sought after palliative care centres in Málaga, built on a plot of land provided by the Benalmádena City Council. They depend on the support of the community for its financing, and its objectives cover all types of palliative care to patients in advanced stages and that are terminal, in addition to supporting to the family throughout the process. They offer home care, external consultation, daily support and a day centre as well as training for patients themselves, professionals, volunteers and family in terms of how to treat scars and the use of wigs for people who would like help during that hard time. The therapies in the centre are very varied, such as relaxation, beauty treatment, massage, aromatherapy, recreation, painting and or reiki therapy.
Keeping within the lines of volunteer work another option is Aspandem in San Pedro de Alcantara. Their objective is help and improve living conditions for all levels of disabled people, regardless of the age, including aiming to help fulfil their desires and aspirations. One of the services that they are very proud of is a development project where they seek to improve overall skills and help integrate better into society, for people over 16 years old who are unemployed and aiming to become as self-sufficient as possible. Some of the jobs and training programs include: Gardening, garden centre maintenance, working in laundries, making paper bags and working at the gift shop in the Costa del Sol hospital.
In addition to the centres discussed, Marbella has an association of volunteers that work on awareness programs giving support to schools, at sporting events, administrative works and much more. Thanks to all the above mentioned that Marbella and our neighbouring cities are places that are not only alive during the holiday seasons, but continue to work throughout the year to improve living conditions on our beautiful coasts making them the best in the world for all to live in together.
Photo by Marek Prygiel