The Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO) signs a collaboration agreement with Caritas in order to promote volunteering and develop joint actions aimed at caring for people in vulnerable situations.
During the signing ceremony, the director of Caritas, Sonsoles López, stressed that the organization is “much more than sometimes thought,” stressing that its work goes beyond parish action. “We work with vulnerable women, homeless people and groups at risk of exclusion anywhere in the territory of Cantabria. This presence throughout the community is a great asset, because it allows us to open doors to vulnerable people in any space”, he said.
Cáritas encouraged the university community to get to know its work through its website and social networks, such as Instagram and Facebook. “Let them come, let them know us and see where we are,” insisted Sonsoles, who recalled that Caritas is an organization that is constantly changing to be useful to society and respond to new social realities.
One of the central axes of the convention is volunteering, an area in which Caritas is committed to flexibility and adaptation to the possibilities of each person. “We are no longer talking about rigid volunteering with closed schedules, but about seeing what each person can offer, in which space and how they can collaborate, even from a distance,” explained the director, highlighting the networking and accompaniment provided by the volunteer area.
For his part, the rector of the University, Rubén, stressed the importance of the work carried out by Caritas and the need for organizations to be flexible and serve volunteers. “Caritas is much more than a powerful brand; the work it does is fundamental and generates confidence in both individuals and institutions,” he said.
The Office of Cooperation and Social Action of the University valued this agreement as an opportunity to bring students and the university community closer to social projects that “make life much more beautiful”, remembering that helping others also has a positive impact on yourself.
With this agreement, the University and Caritas strengthen their joint commitment to social justice, solidarity and building a more humane and inclusive society.