2018_04_09_ARQ_mark_arbizu_tantaka

Mark Arbizu was clear that his goal was Architecture. "My father always reminds me that when I was 8 years old I told him I wanted to be an architect," he says at the beginning of the interview. He is currently studying the first year of degree program at the School of Architecture at the University of Navarra.

Arbizu is also a member of Tantaka Arquitectura, a group of more than 60 people, formed by professors, students and other professionals of the University. This group collaborates, among others, with the solidarityproject developed by the Solidarity Time Bank (Tantaka) of the University, in partnership with Caritas.

This project has as goal to repair deteriorated homes in which people with limited resources live.

What exactly are the tasks of project in which you are involved?

I am working in a children's home. We have to replace furniture, paint the walls, fix things that are deteriorated, etc. Everything that goes with renovating the house.

When was the first time you went to the house to renovate it? How many days do you go?
About a month ago we were called to go to rebuild the first time. We have to go about every other Saturday.

What does this project do for you?

It gives you the opportunity to meet people with whom you study. Of course, it is also important the knowledge that you acquire when you face a task that you do not know and you learn to solve it. Companionship: You learn to value the work in team, each one, from his experience financial aid to the other when he has difficulties.

Why did you volunteer?

For many years, I have been a member of a non-profit leisure time association . I am a children's instructor, we do activities, and we usually go camping. Here I saw the opportunity to help people and it seemed interesting to me to be able to take advantage and integrate architecture, to be able to relate both things.

How do you organize yourself to combine your obligations as a student and make time to help others?

Honestly, I always try to work during the week as much as I can to have the weekend a little more free, and to be able to dedicate myself to this subject of activities.

How did you get to know Tantaka?

In the first days of class some volunteers came to give us a talk in which they explained how Tantaka worked, what they did.

A phrase that inspires you volunteer activities.

Happiness is only real when it is shared.