Work Camp 2026, 15 Days That Left Their Mark

After 15 days of living together, commitment, and service, our Work Camp in Valencia came to an end on July 18.

We arrived at the Escuelas Pías Malvarrosa school with mattresses, suitcases, and many uncertainties about what awaited us during those days. However, today we can say that we’re leaving with much more than we brought. We’re taking with us smiles, unforgettable memories, lessons learned, hugs, and friendships that, in just two weeks, have become a little family.

When we arrived, many of us were thinking about the service we were going to provide or how this experience would turn out for us. But, little by little, everything changed. We shifted our focus from “me” to “you.” We discovered that true richness lay in giving of ourselves to others, in putting the children at the center, in letting ourselves be surprised by every smile, every hug, and every moment shared with them. What we experienced was very different from what we had imagined; it was, without a doubt, so much greater.

We also thought it would take time to build a sense of community, but once again, reality surprised us. From the very first night, the differences between those of us who came from Albacete, Madrid, Monforte, Mexico, Gandia, Vitoria, and Valencia disappeared. We stopped being people from different places and became a community united by a common purpose. Almost without realizing it, we began to build a home where everyone had a place, where service, listening, and caring for one another became part of our daily lives.

The first few days were intense. Before diving fully into the projects, we went through a period of preparation and training that allowed us to grow both personally and as a group. We learned tools for managing emotions, resolving conflicts, and working as a team, discovering that serving also means learning to know oneself and to care for others.

Throughout this journey, we were accompanied by “Saint Joseph Calasanz,” who guided us every morning and every night through prayer. Starting the day by placing ourselves in his hands and ending it with a moment of silence, reflection, and encounter with God became one of the most eagerly anticipated parts of our day. After intense, emotionally charged mornings, that pause helped us give thanks for what we had experienced, find calm, and recharge our strength for the next day.

Every afternoon we also had a moment of group reflection. Listening to one another allowed us to discover how each person had experienced their day in the different projects—Llum, Amaltea, and Saó—to understand different realities and learn from each other’s experiences. It was during these moments that we realized how every small act of service had a significant impact, and where many of us felt the desire to continue volunteering even after the camp ended.

On the weekends, even though the projects took a break, the camp remained alive. These were days for getting to know each other better, spending time together, strengthening teamwork, having fun, laughing, and going about our daily tasks just like in any home. Cleaning, tidying up, organizing everything, or simply sitting down to chat were simple moments that, without us realizing it, strengthened the bonds we had formed.

Today we leave with the certainty that this work camp has not only transformed the lives of the children with whom we’ve shared these fifteen days, but also our own. We take with us new friendships, memories that will last forever, and tools that will accompany us on our journey.

Above all, we’re leaving with a new perspective, our hearts full, and a commitment to ensure that everything we’ve experienced doesn’t end with these fifteen days, but continues to bear fruit wherever we may be.

Because some experiences end when we pack our bags. And others, like this one, truly begin when each of us returns home.