More than 80 NGOs and social organisations are looking for student volunteers to work together to promote inclusion in the Basque Country

The University of Deusto has once again become a space for meeting and active participation through its traditional Volunteering Fair. Organised by Deusto Campus Solidarity, the event brought together more than 80 NGOs and third sector organisations on its Bilbao and San Sebastián campuses to introduce students to their various social support programmes. This edition is being held to mark the 140th anniversary of the academic institution.

The events took place on 15 September at the San Sebastián campus and on 17 September at the Bilbao campus, in collaboration with the La Caixa Foundation. This year’s event featured information stands, express workshops and engaging talks designed to give young people first-hand insight into the realities of their local community and help them discover volunteering opportunities where they can best contribute their time and skills. During the event in Bilbao, Rector Juan José Etxeberria and institutional representatives toured the venue, speaking with students and representatives of the more than 60 participating organisations, including Cáritas Bizkaia, Ametsgoien, Bizitegi, Fundación Síndrome de Down, Cruz Roja, Yan Lur and Alboan.

The San Sebastián event, which also received significant institutional support, brought together 23 social initiatives, including Adinkide, África Imprescindible, Alboan, Atzegi, BadaBideBat, Fundación Gertuan, Loiolaetxea and SOS Racismo Gipuzkoa. As Yajaira Kortabitarte, head of Deusto Campus Solidarity in San Sebastián, explains: "At the university, we believe it is essential for students to engage with different social realities so that they can gain a better understanding of the world and practise their professions from a broader perspective."

Similarly, Aitor Arbaiza, head of Deusto Campus Solidaridad in Bilbao, notes that “volunteering is not simply an extracurricular activity; it is a way of positioning ourselves in the world and responding to the most complex questions of our time.” "When students engage directly with the human and social boundaries of our environment, they not only bring value to organisations: they transform their own professional and human perspective so that they can put it at the service of the common good."

Shared commitment

Beyond the academic sphere, the initiative promotes the development of key transferable skills for students’ personal and professional futures, such as teamwork, active listening and empathy. In this way, university education is linked to direct action to promote social inclusion, protect the environment and support people in vulnerable situations.

The Volunteering Fair reflects the mission of the Society of Jesus and Deusto university’s identity: educating people to be aware, competent, compassionate and committed. Through collaboration with local community organisations, the institution seeks to build bridges between academia and society, fostering support networks for people experiencing greater social exclusion.

This commitment to addressing local needs while taking a broader perspective on humanity and social justice reflects the universal mission of Jesuit education, which seeks to build a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable society through close engagement and collaborative networks.