VOLUNTEERING

Fulbrighters arrive in Spain full of energy and expectations, ready for nearly a year of rigor and fun outside of their homeland. Many Fulbrighters also come with the desire to integrate themselves into their new Spanish community and serve as volunteers, especially in regard to their side projects. The challenge is that some of you will get discouraged in your search for volunteer organizations or find yourselves without adequate time to dedicate to community service.

Volunteering in a foreign country is no easy task and it requires a significant time commitment. Most Fulbrighters who volunteer in Spain generally commit themselves to 2-6 hours per week of service for an average period of 4-7 months. However, volunteering is a wonderful way to gain new perspectives and also connect with Spaniards and others living in your Spanish community.

Volunteerism in Spain differs significantly from that in the United States. Volunteerism has a long history in the U.S., while voluntariado is a relatively new phenomenon in Spain. Not surprisingly, then, many more Americans volunteer than Spaniards, and service learning — now all the rage in the U.S. — is just beginning to be a recognized concept in Spain. Surprisingly, while more Americans volunteer in religious organizations than any other, 75% of the volunteer organizations in Spain are non-denominational. Only 21% of the volunteer organizations in Spain are Catholic. Finally, voluntariado in Spain is fairly fragmented and bureaucratic, which can make it difficult to find and get involved in volunteer organizations.

Since the most common reason why Fulbrighters do not get involved in volunteering is, in their own words, “I don’t know how to get involved,” we have put together charts with some of the side projects of past Fulbright cohorts with the contact information of the diverse organizations with which they worked, in addition to the guide below about volunteering for future Fulbrighters. You will find the names of organizations in which to get involved, tips from Fulbright volunteers, and anecdotes about Fulbrighters’ experiences volunteering in Spain.