Unfortunately, when asylum seekers first arrive in Barcelona, they face major challenges before they can fully integrate into local life. Immigrants often deal with xenophobia, workplace discrimination, and significant language barriers. After living there, I wanted to understand more about the integration process and do what I could, however small, to help. That’s when I found BarcelonActua, an NGO focused on supporting asylum seekers every step of the way on their journey toward integration.
Founded in 2011, BarcelonActua has made a serious impact on the lives of young migrants. One of their most important missions is called Landing, a social space where migrants and locals can reciprocally learn languages. Landing’s informal process allows for relationships to be fostered with locals, which is a key step towards integration.
I volunteered for a few weeks with another mission, called BACStation. The organisation runs a network of houses that offer a temporary housing for vulnerable young people. The key idea is to provide a stable living environment which allows them to enter the world of work. Volunteers had the chance to cook, clean, and get to know these young people. Socialising is key component of this voluntary work, as it is a crucial part of network building. At present, there are two BACStation houses in the city, each with around 20 residents. I felt a strong sense of community in my time there and could really see the positive impact of the camaraderie for the asylum seekers.
'Founded in 2011, BarcelonActua has made a serious impact on the lives of young migrants. One of their most important missions is called Landing, a social space where migrants and locals can reciprocally learn languages.'
I had the chance to interview Lina, a senior staff member at BarcelonActua, who shared some insights about the integration process and the importance of building a support network for migrants. She told me, “The most rewarding part of working at BarcelonActua is seeing so many people come together to create a ripple effect, building a strong, supportive network.” She also talked about challenging the cultural hierarchy through promoting values like respect and equality. “It’s inspiring to see citizens, migrants, businesses, and other groups come together to make a real difference.” The hardest part of the whole process towards full independence is housing. Lina explained the issue, saying, “There are major barriers, like the lack of affordable housing and racial discrimination in the (housing) market.”
I quickly realized how important volunteers are to BarcelonActua. In 2023, the organization supported over 620 people with the help of 900 volunteers. Volunteering abroad has been a great way for me to connect with the local culture and meet a lot of like-minded people. But most importantly, I’ve loved being part of such an impactful organization, learning how it runs, and making a difference in the lives of vulnerable people. Lina pointed out that the biggest challenge to their work is “Racism that reinforces prejudices and holds back progress toward a more inclusive society.” BarcelonActua is working to fight this by building a strong support network for asylum seekers. It was great to see the impact of that network firsthand, and having a dedicated group of volunteers is key to making it all happen. I found that volunteering for BarcelonActua was the definition of a win-win situation – a brilliant and eye-opening experience for me, and, most importantly, the chance to get involved in some valuable work that is making a huge difference to society.