The Bastidor Association (Associació Bastidor) is a vital non-profit collaboration in our community, uniting the Oliva Ayuntamiento, Cáritas, the Carmelite Sisters, and CaixaBank. For over 20 years, this partnership has been dedicated to a singular, life-changing goal: providing disadvantaged children in Oliva with the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond.
A Mission of Empowerment
The association focuses on essential after-school support, helping students with exam preparation, homework, and core skill improvement across all subjects. By fostering a supportive learning environment, Bastidor encourages students to complete their education with the grades necessary to open doors for their future.
Serving a Diverse Community
Located in the heart of Oliva’s Old Town (not far from Cafe Molino’s), the centre currently supports approximately 400 students aged 6 to 15.
While the association originally served primarily the local Roma population, its demographics have evolved. Today, at least half of the children come from immigrant families—including those from Morocco, other parts of Africa, and Pakistan. These students face the unique challenge of mastering school subjects while simultaneously learning two new languages: Castellano and Valenciano.
The Bastidor Centre and the parents of the students are particularly keen for the children to learn English as a way to improve their long-term life chances. To support this, there are dedicated volunteers for each day of the week specifically to help with English, supported by a team of substitutes.
The heartbeat of Bastidor is its team of 30+ dedicated volunteers. These men and women give their time in various ways, from reading with younger children and mentoring exam students to preparing daily snacks.
The centre operates two sessions every weekday afternoon. This structured approach ensures every child receives individual attention. Beyond academics, the association provides a caring touch: a healthy afternoon snack for each child as they finish their session.
How You Can Help
The association’s funding is entirely grassroots, raised through selling plants and baked goods at local markets. If you would like further information, have children’s books or supplies to donate, or are interested in joining the volunteer team, please contact Sue Arnott