ESC: Team volunteering for the defense of human rights in Madrid

Alianza por la Solidaridad, a member of ActionAid, is an organization with 35 years of experience, which aims to achieve an active and global citizenship that fights against the great inequalities of the world and in favor of the recognition of human rights for all people. Alianza por la solidaridad was born with the aim of empowering people, their groups and communities to take the reins of their future and be able to transform their societies, correcting inequalities at the root and in a sustainable way. We work to defend human rights, to advance societies, to reduce inequalities, and to make the world a better place for we and future generations. We are committed to the dissemination of truthful information, knowledge and experiences around the subjects and causes in which we work. And also, a focus on network work, alliance building and participation in European spaces. We believe in the power of people and their groups to change the world. When people organize, pool their capabilities and guide their efforts to transform their societies, correcting inequalities at the root and in a sustainable way, they empower and produce change. We invest all our knowledge, experience and creativity in defending the rights of everyone around the world no matter where they were born or where they choose to live. Alianza por la Solidaridad has been an integral part of the International ActionAid Federation since 2018. In this way, our forces of action multiply exponentially. ActionAid has a presence in Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania in a total of 45 countries that, together with those where Alliance operates, give the Federation and Alliance a true global reach. Alianza por la Solidaridad also actively participates in various national networks and platforms such as the NGOD Coordinator of Spain (CONGDE) and we work together with several regional coordinators with which we form a wide territorial network. We are also active members of FEVOCAM (Volunteering Federation of the Community of Madrid), and at the international level we are part of the European volunteer network VOLONTEUROPE. Our priority is 3 groups: Women, Youth and Migrants. Three groups, very diverse internally, but with a high vulnerability and that through their empowerment can generate great social changes. Alianza por la Solidaridad has developed a strategy for working with young people that incorporates actions to empower and improve their capacities, meet with other young people, linkage with charitable causes and promote their democratic participation. We support young people through training, organization, volunteering, and personal skills development: leadership, learning how to implement different initiatives, communication skills, teamwork, technological skills and social engagement. We actively participate in ERASMUS+ Youth, European Solidarity Corps and Eu Aid Volunteers projects by facilitating young people, volunteering opportunities and engaging in solidarity actions that connect them with other young people and communities in different countries to fight for human rights. We have agreements with different national, European and third country organizations to receive and send young volunteers. In Spain, we offer opportunities to young volunteers at the Fair and Solidarity Trade Store in Madrid, and in our offices in Madrid, Sevilla, Granada, Valencia and Mérida to engage in campaigns and projects that seek equality between men and women and fight against gender-based violence, climate justice and the rights of migrants. We also offer opportunities in third countries, such as Colombia, Bolivia, Senegal, Mauritania, Jordan, Palestine, among others, to link in actions with local communities seeking their development and/or providing them with humanitarian aid (when necessary). We have deployed more than 200 volunteers to Europe and third countries in recent years. In 2018 Alliance for Solidarity was recognized with the "Recognition of Young Europe Madrid" award for promoting the mobility of European youth.