Following two years of relationship building and development work the Fundación Almería Tierra Abierta (Open Land Almería Foundation) was formally established last month – the first in Andalusia. Recognising its unique social and economic challenges, and in particular those facing the migrant population, a diverse group of citizens, companies and institutions gathered to form the community foundation to
promote the social sustainability of the province.
The founders were assisted through the process by the Spanish Association of Foundations and will join a growing national community foundation interest group. Below, Rosa Gallego describes who was involved and why.
The 9th Community Foundation in Spain and the fourth supported by the Spanish Association of Foundations was legally set up on 28th July 2023.
After two years of work, over 45 founders gathered for the legal procedure before a public notary. Three leading companies of the region and over 40 persons acting on their personal capacity as citizens are the founders of this community foundations that aims to work on one of the most pressing issues in Almería, which is the settlements of migrant workers living in unacceptable conditions.
The initiators of the process understood how a community foundation is the best way to work for their community and to do it in a comprehensive way, involving all actors of society: companies, nonprofit organisations, the catholic church, public administrations and have worked hard to make the founding act already a demonstration of the value of a community foundation. The board will also consist of a diverse group of people, all of them with a long association both personal and professional with Almería.
The Spanish Association of Foundations have given support to the initiative group for over one year and soon will welcome Fundación Almeria Tierra Abierta as a member of the Community Foundations Interest Group to continue helping it to develop and strengthen its role in Almería.
Almería is a natural channel for migrants crossing from Africa with their destination being Almería or elsewhere in Spain or Europe. Due to its geographical position, it is very clear it is a place that highlights one of the unsolved crises in Europe, and therefore presents a challenging but also extraordinary role for a community foundation.
Rosa Gallego
August 2023
