Details & Itinerary

Travel to Spain, immerse yourself in Spanish, participate in a sustainable living project, and learn about the challenges immigrants face in Europe. Of course, we’ll also stop to see many beautiful landmarks in Madrid, Granada, and Malaga along the way! From big cities to close-knit rural communities, this program offers an exciting and welcome approach to experiencing the rich cultures of Spain.

Itinerary

DAYS 1-3: MADRID ORIENTATION & SIGHTSEEING

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..

DAY 4: SEBULCOR ADVENTURE

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.

DAYS 5-8: AMAYUELAS: A MODEL COMMUNITY OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING

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!

DAY 9: MALAGA KAYAKING & EXPLORATION

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).

DAYS 10-15: GRANADA IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY & SERVICE WORK

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.

DAYS 16-17: MADRID DEPARTURE

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.

When flights become available, please contact us for the latest airfare pricing or visit our Flight & Travel Arrangements page for more information about travel days.

Please note that this itinerary is subject to change.

Tech Free Programs:

Global Works does not allow phones/internet-capable devices on our summer programs. We believe this enhances group cohesion and allows students to be fully present to their experience.

Service Projects

Environmental Sustainability

Learn about sustainable living practices and create adobe structures

Immigrant Services

Assist with childcare and support language learning through intercambio with immigrant families

Community Engagement

Prepare meals and work in the garden to help keep community life running smoothly

Education and Childcare

Organize activities and soccer games for local children

Adventure & Cultural Activities

Kayak in Malaga

Visit the cultural centers of Madrid, Granada, and Malaga

Take a local cooking class

Gallery

Accommodations

SEBULCOR

We begin our program in quaint guesthouse lodging in the beautiful town of Sebulcor, north of Madrid. Surrounded by the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains, this is the perfect launch pad for orientation activities, hiking, and kayaking. Participants stay in rooms of 2-3 people with private baths.

AMAYUELAS DE ABAJO

In Amayuelas de Abajo, participants stay in a beautiful 17th-century house that has maintained many of its old-world charms. The proprietors have conserved as many of the home’s original elements as possible, including its numerous cozy plazas, large communal dining areas and a gorgeous covered patio. Lodging is simple, clean and cozy with bunk-bed sleeping arrangements. Owners of this hostel work hard to promote community-based living environments with a focus on healthy agricultural initiatives and sustainable rural development.

MADRID

Our hostel is just off of the bustling square, Puerta del Sol, and a few blocks walk to the majestic Plaza Mayor and the renowned Prado Museum. The historic 19th century building was a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway and the location of the first cinema projection in Spain before it became the simple but comfortable hostel that it is today. All rooms have private bathrooms.

GRANADA

Our accommodations are at the Fundacion Escuela de Solidaridad, just outside of Granada. FES founder, Ignacio, has welcomed Global works students for over 10 years to what becomes our home-away-from-home. Residents are committed to providing a caring and secure environment for our participants. Accommodations consist of dorm style lodging with private bathrooms. Students eat meals with and work on service projects alongside the residents. The premise also includes expansive open spaces, a large swimming pool, and a communal dining area.

MALAGA

Our centrally located hotel is within walking distance to most major historical sites, including the Alcazaba. Rooms are for two to four students with private bathrooms.

Reviews & Testimonials

I couldn’t have asked for better leaders for the adventure of a lifetime. They were by our sides through the good and the bad times. Before the trip, I was nervous to leave into the unknown and a foreign country. I was nervous about the kids I would be spending a month with. All three leaders made the transition very easy. From each counselor, I took in vast amounts of knowledge which will last me a lifetime. These three leaders made my trip as good as it was, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better or anything more.

- Global Works Participant