Volunteering projects lower school dropout rates in Andalucía

In Andalucía, Spain, volunteers known as ‘hadas madrinas’ (fairy godmothers) and ‘hados’ are helping to reduce early school dropout rates, particularly in disadvantaged areas like the Tres Mil Viviendas neighborhood of Seville.

The Junta de Andalucía has seen a nearly six percentage point decrease in early school abandonment, from 21.63% in 2019 to 15.69% in the first quarter of this year, thanks to projects like this one and increased teaching support in vulnerable zones.

At Nuestra Señora de la Paz school, which serves many Roma and Latin American students, absenteeism reached 27% last year. School leaders found that students often come from unstable families where parents may not prioritize education or know how to support their children’s learning. Volunteers supplement the work of teachers by providing individual attention and serving as positive role models.

Volunteers, ranging from students to retirees, offer support from one hour to a full day each week, requiring only willingness and enthusiasm. They help students with basic skills like reading, writing, and math, as well as life skills like tying shoes and conflict resolution.

One volunteer, Esperanza Martín, noted the children’s overwhelming affection and need for connection, saying she “gets more out of it than [she] gives.” Students like Fernando Díaz credit the volunteers with helping them improve academically and develop a love of learning.