The Fundación El Buen Samaritano visits Bicis para la Vida by ŠKODA

This week the Alberto Contador Foundation’s Bicis para la Vida by ŠKODA project received a visit from the Fundación El Buen Samaritano (Good Samaritan Foundation). This institution, created in 1989 under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Madrid, works for the recovery and social, family and work integration of people with mental health problems.

One of the projects in its programme of activities, Rebicicla, has been working with bicycles since its launch in January 2020. These bicycles, donated by individuals and organisations, are given in usufruct to people in vulnerable situations once they have been reconditioned during the workshops held at the Carabanchel Labour Rehabilitation Centre (CRL).

Emiliano Malagón, head of Rebicicla and in charge of giving classes in its multi-skilled workshop, participant Celedonio Miguel and Patricia Díaz, director of the CRL of Carabanchel, wanted to find out more about the day-to-day running of Bicis para la Vida by ŠKODA. Paco Romero, director of the social area of the Contador Foundation, and Ángel López, head of logistics for the project, explained how the project works, the workshop area where AMP volunteers work on the bike set-up and other issues.

“The contribution of the bicycle to all social and solidarity projects goes beyond the donation to a person, project or group that will be able to develop a project thanks to this tool. It allows a network of cooperation to be woven and stimulates the creation of a network of synergies that strengthen the work of helping people. In the end, that is the goal: to help others, physically, mentally and occupationally, and to improve their situation. We share many of the same points with the Rebicicla project of the Good Samaritan Foundation, with whom we have to establish ways of beautiful and productive collaboration,” says Romero.