In Madrid, Residents Help Families Prepare Children for School

Seven-year-old Aisha is tired of summer vacation and is eagerly looking forward to returning to the classroom. Her mother, Alejandra Suárez, is also preparing for the start of the school year: her youngest son, ten-month-old Alejandro, will soon start daycare, which will allow her to return to work. However, getting ready for school is causing the family concern—they still do not have backpacks or other essentials for the children.

Many residents of the El Pozo del Tío Raimundo neighborhood in Madrid’s Puente de Vallecas district are facing the same situation. The association Somos Red Entrepozo VK, created during the pandemic to support low-income families, operates here. Today, 60 households are involved in the initiative, and the recipients of aid also become volunteers: they sort, collect, and distribute donations coming in from companies and individuals.

This year, the organization has focused on collecting used school supplies for families in the greatest need. However, as the association’s president, Adriana Popa, notes, the volume of donations is lower than expected. In Madrid, the cost of preparing for the school year is among the highest in the country: the average amount per student exceeds €3,000, while across Spain the figure is more than €500 for materials, uniforms, meals, and other needs.

Alejandra’s family lives on an income just above 15,000 euros a year. All expenses fall on a single adult, making the purchase of school supplies a major challenge. Just the new textbooks for Aisha cost 150 euros, and with the uniform and other required purchases, the total has already reached 400 euros, with some essentials still not yet bought.

In addition to school supplies, the association supports residents with food, hygiene products, clothing, and other basic necessities. Many of those receiving assistance are single mothers, unemployed people, women affected by violence, as well as migrants. The organization’s office is located at Avenida de las Glorietas, 19-21. Although the premises are shared with another entity, volunteers continue their work to reach as many people in need as possible.

The main goal in the coming days is to gather everything necessary for students by September 7, so that children can start school on time and with all the required supplies.