Spain: Sustainable Communities And Immigration

Our group flight lands in Madrid, the capital of Spain. We begin our program getting to know one another through team building activities and orientation. Our lodging is right off the Puerta del Sol and gives us easy access to the cosmopolitan inner city and the palaces of another era. During our stay, we visit the world-renowned Prado Museum and stroll through the Plaza Mayor and Retiro Park. We sample local delicacies during a scavenger hunt at the Mercado and see the intricate architecture of the Royal Palace..

We head north to Sebulcor, a quaint and beautiful town in the Segovia region. We have the opportunity to hike in the Sierra de Guadarrama. Students divide into task forces to complete projects, take responsibility of trip discussions and reflection activities, and coordinate the schedule for the upcoming stay in the sustainable living community of Amayuelas. We also take an afternoon to visit the city of Segovia to view its spanning aqueduct and towering cathedral.

From Sebulcor, we travel north to the small town of Amayuelas de Abajo, a formerly abandoned Spanish town that has been reclaimed by Spaniards looking to create a sustainable community. Amayuelas provides an inspiring setting for many interesting environmental restoration and conservation projects. Our students break into small groups and join with Spanish community members to work on various projects such as making adobe bricks for construction, gardening, and bread baking. We’ll learn about their work to conserve native regional seeds and collaborate on restoration projects using traditional, sustainable building methods. Global Works Ambassadors are assigned each day to collaborate with the local project leaders, communicate plans with the group, and conduct evening activities with the our hosts. Students practice skills such as public speaking, interpersonal communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Naturally, it is not “all work and no play.” In the late afternoons and evenings, there is time for exploration, activities, and soccer games!

Next, we travel to Malaga and the Costa Del Sol. We partake in a paella making workshop, while also getting time to explore the city center, go souvenir shopping, and have beach time on the Mediterranean Sea. Malaga also includes the chance to go kayaking! We wrap up our time here with an immigration workshop to prepare us for our stay in the community of Fundación Escuela de Solidaridad (FES).

For the next five days, the Fundación Escuela de Solidaridad (FES) near historic Granada is our home. FES is a very special community composed of single mothers, young families, and immigrants from all walks of life throughout Spain, Europe, and even Africa. Everyone who lives there contributes to different work projects throughout the community, while also learning job skills that will help them upon departure from FES. Our community development and education projects vary from day-to-day and may include working in the preschool, teaching English, preparing meals, gardening, building greenhouses, making candles, and even creating a mosaic as a reminder of the important projects that we have completed. Our group stays together in a guesthouse on site. Spanish immersion activities are held each day with our knowledgeable Global Works leaders and local community members. Students of all ability levels are sure to increase their confidence and improve their communication skills through daily interaction with our local partners!

One morning, we visit the beautiful Alhambra, a Moorish palace-fortress and “paradise on earth” for the rulers who lived there in the 13th century. We take in stunning views of the Alhambra on a walk up to Jardines de Zoraya. We also put on our dancing shoes for a flamenco lesson and enjoy a flamenco performance. The farewell dinner and celebration brings to a close an unforgettable time with this community.

As we wrap up our time in Fes, we begin our drive north back to Madrid. We take the opportunity to reflect on our time together and the new memories we have shared. Finally, we have a celebratory dinner before we must say goodbye to Spain the next day for our flight home.

The Global Works chaperoned Group Flight departs from New York (JFK) for this program. Airfare is not included in the tuition. Please visit the Group Flight Portal to book your flight after enrollment and Flight & Travel Arrangements for more information about travel days.