Solidarity

In the words of Saint John Paul II, solidarity is the “firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all" (John Paul II, Sollicitudo rei socialis, n.38, 1987). For this reason, we intend to mobilize all our students to work in favour of those most in need through awareness programs and specific voluntary projects. It is about instilling in young people a responsibility for those who are less fortunate, putting them in contact with the problems of the society in which they live, making them see how with a small contribution of their free time they can collaborate in helping people in need. In this way, young people can channel their interest in helping others by attending to various social needs.

We wish that, in the face of great misfortunes and needs that arise, there is always a response from Retamar students, so that each one makes those daily realities that occur alongside them their own. All the solidarity campaigns and actions carried out by the School are coordinated by the various committees formed by the students themselves, which are, therefore, the natural channel for the development of initiatives and the transmission of all the needs that are detected. We have recently created the #PasiónPorServir website, with which we intend to offer voluntary hours and other assistance to those who may need it. # PasiónPorServir is more than just a motto: it is one of the basic objectives of everyone at Retamar.

Solidarity campaigns
Each year, there are three awareness-raising and fund-raising campaigns and the provision of various types of material aid: the Campaign for the Evangelization of the World; the Campaign Against Poverty in the World; and the Christmas Campaign, which is accompanied by a distribution of blankets, toys and food in needy neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Madrid. These campaigns are aimed at all students of the School.

The Great Collection for Food Bank
Every year, on the first weekend of December, the Spanish Federation of Food Banks organizes a "great collection" throughout Spain. In more than 15,000 establishments (1,300 in the Community of Madrid), numerous volunteers coordinate the delivery of food that many others prepare. Retamar students (4th ESO to 2nd Baccalaureate) have participated in this campaign since 2014, with more than 500 volunteers covering shifts throughout the weekend in 16 shopping centers. In 2017, 110,500kg of food were collected in these centres. In 2016 the Food Bank awarded Retamar a distinction for its participation in this campaign.

Solidarity among Peoples Project
To encourage concern for others in Retamar students, we aim to establish, for each year group, specific projects that can be followed and promoted by the Solidarity Committees. All this work that is carried out for twelve years culminates in a work camp in the country whose projects they have supported during their stay at the College, attended by students who wish to do so, who have finished their 2nd year of the upper secondary school. In addition, students who have finished their 1st year of Baccalaureate have been going to another work camp in Saint Petersburg (Russia) for two years. You can visit the work camps page if you wish.

Solidarity activities of parents and children
They are designed for students in 5th and 6th of Primary and 1st of ESO. They take place on some Saturday and Sunday mornings. These activities have the collaboration of the NGO Cooperación Internacional.

Two activities are planned per year, one in the first term and the other in the second:

—Solidarity breakfasts. This activity consists of the distribution - by parents and children - of coffee and pastries among homeless people in Madrid. This activity is intended to accompany and welcome homeless people and at the same time raise the awareness of participants of these situations.
—Solidarity accompaniment. Visits to nursing homes, hospitals, etc. are organized. The objective of the participants is to accompany and help residents have a pleasant time.

Another proposal that we offer you for the first cycle of primary school, in collaboration with the APA, is family volunteering with children with disabilities. We all agree on the need to educate students with values ​​that make healthy coexistence possible. To this end, this solidarity plan allows our children to meet children of the same age with mental and/or physical limitations and from less favoured social situations and to increase students’ respect and sensitivity towards them. This solidarity plan, through which we support the activities of the NGO Desarrollo y Asistencia, consists of volunteer families from our school who can dedicate the mornings of two Saturdays a quarter (from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: 30 h.) To go on recreational/cultural outings with these disabled children. With this we achieve a triple objective: while our families gain in social sensitivity, children with disabilities receive an invaluable stimulus that favours their development and their own families have a time of "family respite" that they need from the strenuous care of these special children.