Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Charity
I have always been a champion of charity, having a firm belief in the work they do. In
Britain I volunteered myself and also worked for a large international charitable
organisation, for about eight years. The time I spend here, working with good,
dedicated people taught me much about the nature of those, who give up their time,
essentially to ensure that others, can also have the chances they had in life. Although
the last two years I spent with this trust, were not what I would have expected, from
such a large high profile agency, this has by no means tainted my time, spent with those
who work, at ground level tirelessly. These are the unsung heros of nations across the
world, not only the United Kingdom. There will always be those who take advantage of
vulnerable people, especially in the voluntary sector, as I discovered, before moving to
Spain; that should not, however, detract from all the good work, undertaken by some
wonderful local non-profit groups. When I arrived in Gran Alacant, I had become weary
of such trusts and foundations and was unsure about ever contributing in a voluntary
sense again.
My experience of the charitable sector in Spain began with a conversation at Molly
Malones, sat eating breakfast one morning. I was directed to, The Easy Horse Care
Charity, in Masa Square, where I volunteered for about a month. The Foundation cares
for horses and donkeys in this region of Spain. Unlike Britain, there is no history of
volunteering, and the concept is relatively new. Easy Horse Care had a fantastic core
group of dedicated staff, all giving up their time for free, helping a cause they hold
dear.
With several high profile charities in the UK hitting the headlines recently, for negative
reasons, I was interested to know, why people give up their time, to help those in most
need. I have written before about the community in Gran Alacant, who have gone out of
their way to help me, this does extend to good causes also. Whether or not this
philanthropic nature is unique to GA, I am unsure, but it is striking that so many in this
community, Expats and others are all too ready to offer hope to those who suffer
hardship. Most of those, involved at the grassroots level, expressed their desire to see
adults and children lifted out of poverty or terrible living conditions. Others were keen
to support convictions close to their heart, debilitating and chronic illnesses, that
receive little or no funding from the state. The single phrase that kept popping up, was
I am lucky to be living the life I am, in Spain. I want others to feel some of the
benefits, I have enjoyed! Coupled with spare time on their hands and a predisposition
for giving, this community seemed to be far more benevolent than most!
I have attended many events in Gran Alacant, since moving here in January of last year.
I would like to talk about several such occasions; fundraisers I have attended or taken
part in, during my eleven months living in Spain. In September I attended an event for
Tasha Lynch in Masa Square. Tasha, a local girl, was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis.
Although Tasha survived this, for unknown reasons, she became paralysed, contracting
Myelopathy of the spinal cord, which then led to Transverse Myelitis. A fundraiser was
organised by businesses in Masa Square, which I attended with friends.