The leisure and accompaniment volunteer days have started at the Barajas Occupational Center where people with intellectual disabilities reside.
The first day was last Saturday, October 23, and finally there was a return to normality and it was done in person.
For this, all the safety protocols have been followed, and both the users of the Occupational Center and the young volunteers who attended have completed all the vaccination guidelines against COVID-19.
Last year the volunteer program was carried out remotely through ZOOM and with online games, but this time young Madrid volunteers and users have been able to meet face to face and with great emotion.
We spoke with Clara, volunteer Coordinator of the Social Promotion Foundation for this Occupational Center and she told us how the first volunteer day was.
“Although it was the first day we returned after the pandemic, it was as if we had not stopped going… they were super happy, they remembered the known volunteers and asked to the new ones.”
“As it was a very good day, we first went for a walk with them, they showed us the vegetable garden and we played to put stones in a frog. Then we went to the porch and did outdoor games like the one we call in Spain “English hide-and-seek” and some other improvised games”.
“The aperitif instead of at 1:00 p.m. they had it at 12 o’clock and we were with them, then we continued playing until 1:00 p.m. when we left.”
This leisure and accompaniment volunteering of the Social Promotion Foundation is carried out by young professional volunteers in Madrid, Barajas and / or Ciudad Lineal OCCUPATIONAL CENTERS in coordination with the Madrid Social Assistance Agency (AMAS).
The leisure and accompaniment volunteer activity in the CO Barajas arose at the express request of AMAS and fulfills a primary role of accompaniment during the weekend in a Center with very difficult logistics so that residents can go out more autonomous.