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 (902 33 22 22), Acci�n Familiar (914 461 011), ANDE (915 696 548) y Fundaci�n Esplai (902 190 611).

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 (923 294 610 ext. 3293), Federaci�n Nacional de la Mujer Rural (958 22 25 75), Federaci�n de Mujeres Progresistas (91.539.02.38), Asociaci�n de Lucha Contra los Malos Tratos a Mujeres (952 060 232) or the Asociaci�n para la Prevenci�n y Atenci�n de Mujeres Maltratadas ([email protected]) 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 (915 336 419 / 915 533 591), Organizaci�n Alter Mundo: Alternativa Tercer Mundo ([email protected]), Manos Unidas (934 877 878), Intervida (93 300 11 01), Espanica (91-5221035), Ayuda en Acci�n (902 402 404) Solired�� (913 454 612), Alboan (914 153 592), M�dicos del Mundo (915 436 033), Mensajeros de la Paz (913 643 940), Interm�n (93 482 07 74) and J�venes del Tercer Mundo (915 447 620) 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 (915 336 665), Comisi�n Espa�ola de Ayuda al Refugiado (918 045 404), Asociaci�n Comisi�n Cat�lica Espa�ola de Migraci�n (915 327 478), Asociaci�n de Trabajadores Inmigrantes Marroqu�es en Espa�a ATIME (917 440 070), Generaci�n Solidaria (913 142 353), Huelva Acoge (959 285 072).

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 (902 123 125), UNAD (902 313 314), Mensajeros de la Paz (913 643 940) or C�ritas (91 444 10 00) work the whole year round to help those affected to recuperate their self confidence and find their place in society.