From Welcoming a Helping Hand to Offering One
Yakoub arrived in Málaga seeking guidance and a place to start over. Today, he volunteers with Vínculos Project and supports others who are walking a path he knows well.
My Experience with Asha-Kiran
When I think back to when I arrived in Málaga, I remember a time filled with uncertainty. I was in a city that was new to me, and I wasn’t quite sure where to start or what to do to build a life and move forward. I felt lost and needed people who could guide me, support me, and give me a little confidence and hope.
That’s when I discovered Asha-Kiran, and little by little, things began to change. I found people who listened to me, guided me, and helped me when I needed it most. For me, that support meant so much more than just a helping hand—it meant feeling that I wasn’t alone and that I could keep moving forward.
One of the people who made a big difference in my journey was Dayana, Asha-Kiran's representative in Málaga. Her support, her advice, and her willingness to always help me have been crucial to my progress. Thanks to her and everyone at Asha-Kiran, I gradually regained my self-confidence and the desire to keep shaping my future.
Over time, I began to feel that I, too, wanted to contribute. When I had the chance to join Vínculos Project as a volunteer, I was thrilled. I thought it was a way to give back some of what I had received, even if only a small part.
Volunteering means a lot to me because now I can be there for others who might feel the way I did when I first arrived in Málaga: lost, full of doubts, and not knowing where to start.
Sometimes, a conversation, some guidance, a word of encouragement, or simply knowing that someone is there can make a huge difference.
That’s why I like being part of Vínculos Project. It’s not just about helping others; it’s also about learning, sharing experiences, and growing together. What I’ve gained from Asha-Kiran has taught me the importance of helping others when they need it.
I encourage others to support Vínculos Project and to volunteer because I believe we all have something to contribute. We never know how much a little help we offer during a difficult time can mean to someone else.
I am very grateful to Asha-Kiran, Dayana, and everyone who has walked this journey with me. When I arrived in Málaga, I wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen with my life, but finding people who believed in me helped me regain my confidence and look towards the future.
Today, I want to keep moving forward, but I also want to be able to reach out to others, just as others once reached out to me.
Yakoub Boumendjel
Argelia
There is something particularly beautiful about Yakoub’s story: the help received doesn’t end with the person who receives it. It can turn into confidence, independence, and, ultimately, the desire to be there for others.
That, too, is what Vínculos is all about. People who come and people who receive. People who offer support and, one day, may receive it themselves. And sometimes, someone who came seeking support ends up being the one to lend a hand to the next person.
You, too, can help keep this chain going. You can volunteer with Vínculos Project or become a member of Fundación Asha-Kiran and help sustain a space where more and more people can find guidance, learning, companionship, and new opportunities.
Because perhaps one of the most beautiful ways to show gratitude for being offered a helping hand is to be willing, someday, to offer it yourself.
With the support of Málaga City Council.