The communities and works of the Society of Jesus in Valencia are promoting the ALADRE PROJECT. This is an initiative aimed at young people that was conceived in the months prior to the pandemic and was launched at the end of the state of alarm. This coincidence turned into an opportunity, when we all became aware of the extreme fragility we had reached as a society.

The pandemic as catalyst

The situation at that time was a catalyst to awaken in some young people a social commitment that went beyond the moment, that involved them with others, generating processes of recognition of reality and decision-making. The ALADRE project makes it possible for this involvement of young people to be sustained and accompanied by a coordinating team and the social entities with which it collaborates.

This initiative, located in the Arrupe Centre in Valencia, takes into account the Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus, which invite us to walk with the excluded and accompany young people in the creation of a hopeful future.

Preparing and conditioning the soil

Aladre (plough) takes its name from an agricultural tool for tilling the soil before sowing, a tool used to prepare and condition the soil as well as possible so that the seeds that are sown grow as well as possible. Since its inception, and as the project's first report now states, a good number of initiatives have already been carried out. Among them is the fortnightly podcast "From the peripheries", which deals with the social peripheries of the world from a youth perspective. On the other hand, 29 young people have participated in action and accompaniment projects throughout the 2020-21 academic year, in collaboration with social entities, and which include support for people in situations of homelessness, or Spanish and computer classes for migrants. They have also taken part in leisure and free time activities with young migrants accompanied by SJM Valencia, or in solidarity work camps during the Christmas and summer holidays. 

Desires becoming decisions

"Because there are young people who feel the desire to get involved socially, the Aladre Project has a reason to exist, offering a space for these desires to become decisions in favour of the most disadvantaged groups in our society", explains Ignacio Dinnbier, Jesuit and director of the Arrupe Centre in Valencia.

ALADRE has already published its 2020-2021 Report, in which all the actions carried out by this project can be consulted. More information on the ALADRE PROJECT website.