Universitarios por la financial aid Social (UAS) has launched a new membership campaign at the beginning of the new academic year. Founded in 1990, it is the result of the concern of several students of the University of Navarra who were worried about problems present in some sectors of society. The association began its work accompanying and distributing food to families in need or victims of social marginalization.

The result of that first dedication was the area of Families, one of the lines of action of UAS. Later, the detection of other needs led the association to create the area of school support, focused on the encouragement of potential victims of school failure in both primary and secondary Education . As the issue of volunteers increased, new areas were created to fill in range of needs that UAS currently covers: the area for the sick, which accompanies and entertains convalescent children and looks after their families; the area for the elderly, which proposes activities and games for the elderly, the sick and, in general, people in residential homes; and the area for the handicapped, which position of the physically and mentally handicapped of all ages during their leisure time in its workshops or on excursions.

260 young people with a smile and commitment

Teresa Martín Aguado, general coordinator, assures that no specific qualification is necessary to work at UAS. "All that is required is a good disposition, thinking about them and a real commitment, because they are waiting for us. It's about wearing a smile on your face," she said. The time commitment is two hours a week, although work is done according to the availability each volunteer.

The association is made up of 260 people, but "there are many more university students who collaborate in specific social action activities," said the general coordinator. To this figure must be added the total number of students from the University of Navarra who carry out volunteer activities in other associations.