Solidarity teachers
The MAYAS Association was set up in 2009 to offer a better future to underprivileged children in Madrid, with educational support from nursery through to high school. Solidarityminded teachers thus strive to prevent them abandoning their studies prematurely. In addition, there are school lunch grants which help over fifty families with limited resources each month. At the international level, this association helps four shelter homes and local organizations in Bolivia and Nicaragua, with scholarships for some 90 pupils, funding the cost of enrollment, school materials and transport for these children. Those wishing to collaborate can do so by making a financial contribution. There also exists the possibility of “sponsoring” a child in Bolivia or Nicaragua, paying for their studies so they can seek a better future. Another way to collaborate is by being a solidarity teacher, helping children with their homework. If you want to know more about the MAYAS Association, you can visit their website http://www.asociacionmayas.org/
From victims to survivors with MUM
Created in 2010, the MUM (Women United Against Abuse) association assists with the personal development of battered women and their integration into society. They currently offer such services as psychological aid, legal advice, labor integration, accompaniment, aid to families, group activities and a special security service provided by a professional team of altruistic psychologists, lawyers and social workers. Among the projects carried out in Spain, there is a virtual platform called Umoja Violeta (whose name is taken from the Kenyan all-female matriarch village); Eco-Aldea, a housing project; Amazona, a prevention and education project; Laborando, for labor integration; and Sumar Llevando, the association’s volunteering program. Their website is https://asociacionmum.org/
Prosthesis by prosthesis
Alberto Cairo has spent over 25 years working in a Red Cross orthopedic center in Afghanistan. Born in Italy, he first graduated in law and later in physiotherapy. He decided to travel to Sudan as a volunteer for a year and, subsequently, moved on to Afghanistan. Today, 28 years later, he is still working as the head of the ICRC’s (International Committee of the Red Cross) physical rehabilitation program in one of most conflict-ridden zones in the world, helping those unfortunate enough to have stepped on anti-personnel mines. The center not only provides care, prostheses and rehabilitation free of charge, but also offers them jobs in the center or grants microloans for them to develop small businesses and be able to support themselves. To learn more about the orthopedic centers run by the Red Cross in Afghanistan, visit https://www. icrc.org/es/doc/resources/documents/ field-newsletter/2012/afghanistanorthopaedic- newsletter-2012-02-12.htm