Facundo Alexander García is 19 years old, lives in Barcelona's Raval district, and studies Hospitality. His path has not been easy, like that of many young people who grow up in vulnerable contexts derived from factors of structural inequality. The lack of opportunities that he and his family have experienced has conditioned both his academic development and his future expectations. The turning point came when he came into contact with the Fundación de la Esperanza, an entity of the CaixaProinfancia network that provides socio-educational support to vulnerable children and young people far beyond school reinforcement.
Upon entering the Fundación de la Esperanza, in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, Facundo greets the educators and classmates—many already friends—with the familiarity of someone who feels at home. In the classroom, they have a snack and chat for a while before starting their study routine. "I like having a comfortable space where I can focus on my studies and also the support of the educators who help me with activities," he explains.
Having a stable place for learning makes a difference for these young people: "Many do not have an adequate environment to study at home, and some families cannot provide them with the necessary support. Here they can concentrate and receive the support they require," argues Gabriela Macchi, an educator at the Fundación de la Esperanza.
Gabriela Macchi: "Families arrive with needs for academic and social support"
The entities that are part of the CaixaProinfancia network become reference spaces for boys and girls because their work is not limited to just helping them with homework: "Families arrive with support needs, both academically and socially: they also seek a safe space where their children can interact and build bonds," says Macchi.
Educational support to improve access to more opportunities
According to the study Shadow education in the Iberian Peninsula, from the Social Observatory of "la Caixa" Foundation, in Spain 25% of students aged 6 to 18 receive private lessons outside the formal education system. This need to enroll children in reinforcement classes amplifies educational inequalities by imposing greater financial pressure on low-income families, as it entails reducing their budget in other areas. The research therefore reveals a gap both in the likelihood of attending classes and in the expenditure allocated to them, depending on purchasing power.
The Fundación de la Esperanza assists vulnerable families who, according to the educator, "are often also limited by not speaking the language or by a lack of knowledge of the environment and the education system." For these children and young people, the support of CaixaProinfancia is fundamental to overcoming their school stage: "It is a space that allows them to develop integrally, and for families it is very important, and they convey this to us."
In 2025, the program served more than 67,000 children and young people in vulnerable situations across Spain, offering them educational reinforcement, emotional support, leisure and free time activities, and professional guidance. Of the minors served, 84.7% managed to finish and graduate from ESO. Furthermore, the percentage of school dropout among participants is around 3.54%, well below the average in vulnerable contexts.
The entities also work in a network, coordinating with institutes, schools, and social services. "This helps us to mobilize other resources if we see that someone needs additional support," says Macchi, emphasizing the global scope of the care they provide at the Fundación de la Esperanza.
In Facundo's case, this support was key to facing his educational difficulties and improving his reading and writing skills, which allowed him to advance in his studies and begin to imagine a professional future. "When Facundo arrived at the Foundation, we helped him organize himself and understand how to manage his studies, and we guided him to find out what he would like to do in the future," Macchi recalls. He is currently studying a mid-level vocational training course in Hospitality, a sector that particularly motivates him: "My goal is to get the training degree. In the future, I see myself working as a waiter, talking to customers," he assures.
Sharing social commitment: from user to volunteer
In addition to the technical and educational team, the Fundación de la Esperanza has volunteers who accompany young people in their daily lives. Raquel Lalueza is one of them. She supports in reinforcement classes and leisure and sports activities: "These kids have exemplary behavior: they are polite, respectful, very participatory and empathetic," she describes.
"As citizens, we have an obligation to help people who are not in such a favorable situation to promote equal opportunities"
For Lalueza, volunteering has also been a school and has made her aware of the initial inequalities that many families face: "I believe that as citizens we have an obligation to help people in society who are not in such a favorable situation to promote equal opportunities", she reflects.
That social commitment of the monitors and volunteers is transferred to the young people themselves. In Facundo's case, his bond with the entity has led him to complete the leisure monitor training. He wants to be part of the team in the next summer camp. His roots with the neighborhood and the community are completed with the volunteer work he does at the Community of Sant'Egidio in Barcelona, an organization that assists homeless people: "We are a group of young people who help those who are on the street and need shelter and food," he explains.
Facundo's family learned about the Fundación de la Esperanza while looking for a youth center for his younger brother. This coincidence allowed him to access comprehensive support that has been transforming his trajectory, helping him overcome personal and academic barriers, and build his own future project. For Macchi, the key is that "young people know all the resources they have at their disposal not only to complete compulsory schooling, but also to continue growing in life©.