18 September 2025
Bilbao Campus
Once again this year, the University of Deusto held its traditional Volunteering Fair, which took place at the Bilbao campus on Thursday, 18 September, in the university cloister, with the participation of 60 charitable organisations. The Rector, Juan José Etxeberria, visited all the stands at this initiative, which aimed to introduce students to various volunteering programmes and opportunities in areas such as social inclusion, the environment, and support for people in vulnerable situations, among others.
Javier Arellano, Vice-Rector for Research and International Relations, and Ana Garibi, Head of CaixaBank Social Action in the Northern Territorial Division, also took part in the visit, which will brought together the heads of the various participating organisations, as well as many others: Creando Futuro, Caritas Bizkaia, Mundiko Begiak Fundazioa, Acabe Bizkaia, Argia Fundazioa, Aspace Bizkaia, Adeco, Zehar Errefuxiatiekin, Ulertuz, Fundación Síndrome de Down, ONCE, Apnabi, Gorabide, Cruz Roja, Asociación Bizitegi or Fundación Vicente Ferrer.
This year, the 'la Caixa' Foundation is collaborated with this event, which also took place on the San Sebastian campus with the participation of 17 social organisations, including Adinkide, Alboan, AlgaraKlown, Aspace, Atzegi, BadaBideBat, Contra el Cáncer Gipuzkoa, Cruz Roja, Hazi eta ikasi, InteRed, Jesuitak Ikastetxea, Loiolaetxea, Munduko Begiak, Ortzadar, Ostadar Incklusioa, SOS Racismo, Fundación Goyeneche, Kaebnai and Ume Alaia.
The Fair has established itself as a key space for young people to discover how to put their time and talent at the service of society, in line with the University of Deusto's commitment to social justice and the promotion of values of solidarity, in accordance with the Ignatian tradition. Deusto Campus Solidarity is the organising force behind this event, which has become a meeting point for students interested in actively contributing to social causes and the organisations that depend on volunteers to carry out their work.
This event gives students the chance to learn firsthand about volunteering opportunities. For Deusto, “university volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to engage with society and contribute to the well-being of others”. From education for vulnerable children to environmental conservation projects, community health or crisis assistance, the exhibition highlights the diversity of causes that can be addressed through volunteering.
Social Campus
As part of the Fair, an event was held in the Garate Room to recognise and highlight the projects carried out with social organisations during the past academic year, within the Campus Social programme. This University of Deusto programme acted as a “one-stop shop” for vulnerable groups, providing access to the University’s existing capabilities and resources in areas such as training, research, knowledge transfer, and support services.
In this sense, the event was an opportunity to get to know the social organisations that Deusto collaborated with and to discover how, through commitment and action, students can become drivers of social change by participating in projects with a strong impact on their local communities.
