The volunteer is someone who by choice dedicates some of his or her time to take part in acts of solidarity or altruism without receiving any sort of remuneration. This type of dedication is often the backbone of a number of charities and associations that could not function or achieve their objectives without it.

Help the children
Children are often the weakest and most defenceless victims of our society. Situations such as having drug addicted parents and close relatives, abandonment, abuse or being orphaned means that many children have to live in special public centres where the only care they receive is from disinterested volunteers who dedicate some of their free time to making the child's life as happy as possible. Some specialised organisations in this area are: Aldeas Infantiles SOS, Acci�n Familiar, ANDE y Fundaci�n Esplai.

Against domestic violence
Helping women that are the victims of domestic violence is also possible thanks to the help of volunteers. To achieve this, both social conscience and an improvement in the living conditions of the woman are necessary via personal, individual and economic development.  Psic�logos en Acci�n, Federaci�n Nacional de la Mujer Rural, Federaci�n de Mujeres Progresistas, Asociaci�n de Lucha Contra los Malos Tratos a Mujeres or the Asociaci�n para la Prevenci�n y Atenci�n de Mujeres Maltratadas are some of the groups that through their daily work try to make domestic violence a thing of the past.

Helping the Third World
Everyone can do their bit to ensure that the differences between the Third World and the Developed World become smaller. Various associations and charities promote all sorts of activities aimed at gathering money or sending food, medicine, clothes, books or other vital needs to the affected countries. These are the most popular: Asociaci�n para el desarrollo del Tercer Mundo, Organizaci�n Alter Mundo, Alternativa Tercer Mundo, Manos Unidas, Intervida, Espanica, Ayuda en Acci�n, Solired, Alboan, M�dicos del Mundo, Mensajeros de la Paz, Interm�n and J�venes del Tercer Mundo among others.

Helping immigrants
Every year thousands of immigrants enter Spain looking for a better life and a society that allows them to live in peace with their family. However many encounter problems with a language they often cannot speak, lack of jobs, a different culture and, worse, the reaction of many people who simply regard them as a threat. This group also have several organisations and people willing to help them integrate into their new country: Cruz Roja Espa�ola, Comisi�n Espa�ola de Ayuda al Refugiado, Asociaci�n Comisi�n Cat�lica Espa�ola de Migraci�n, Asociaci�n de Trabajadores Inmigrantes Marroqu�es en Espa�a ATIME, Generaci�n Solidaria, Huelva Acoge.

The most needy
Finally, groups such as drug addicts, AIDS patients, the homeless or former prisoners are also abandoned by the rest of society, leaving them to live marginal and forgotten lives. Associations such as Solidarios para el Desarrollo, UNAD, Mensajeros de la Paz or C�ritas work the whole year round to help those affected to recuperate their self confidence and find their place in society.