They come from all over the world:
Portugal, Congo, USA, Taiwan, Brazil, Lithuania… The arrival of foreign volunteers has created a special UN in the WYD central office. Many people have put aside their own jobs and friends in order to help to organise World Youth Day.
They live in university residences or with host families that become their true families when they feel so far away from their own homes. Some of them have become so fond of Madrid that are even thinking on staying longer after WYD.
Maria Ines was ready to host some pilgrims and volunteers during the third week of august. But she got a surprise when Andres, member of her parish, called asking her to host Portuguese volunteer during the next four months. He was arriving the next day to help in WYD .
Ines told me: “The last thing I thought is that I would host a Portuguese person. My brother was concerned about it and he said to me: you don´t know him at all.”
“I don´t know Portugal. When I was young my parents used to take Portuguese workers in, they looked starving… That´s all I can remember about them. I was a bit scared about the whole thing when I thought: There are no races for God, we are all a big family, God´s family, and if we don´t help each other, who will do it?”
So Ines felt she had to say yes in spite of her fears; so she said to Andres that from the following day up to the WYD, she would host Carlos, the Portuguese volunteer.
It has been a fantastic experience. Ines said to Carlos: “get used to the idea that in Spain I´m your mum”. She feeds him well so his parents don´t see him thinner when he goes back to Portugal.
“This is a multicultural family. I feel like a tiny part within a big family, but I belong to it and I feel honoured by it.”
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