From San Sebastian, an engineer by training and a born sportsman. The student Julen Menchaca, a Real Sociedad player, is now also a volunteer in the project Eskutik of the Gipuzkoa Red Cross, whose goal is to accompany children in status underprivileged living in Off-campus apartment accommodation by the Provincial Council.

"My work at the Red Cross consists of being a support for the child due to the absence of a parental figure in his daily life. Faced with this lack, it is essential that they have a support in which they feel safe and trust you as if you were an older brother," Menchaca explains. "We share moments with children who live in shel ters because their parents have lost guardianship, and that status makes it easier for them to be influenced by aggressive, uneducated and lonely attitudes," she describes. That is why, in Julen's words, the support they receive not only from the instructors, but also from collaborators like him who come to visit them once or several times a week, is so important.  

"The status in which he currently lives is somewhat complicated. His parents did not do position as they should have done with him and the child was a bit, believe it or not, the one who acted as a father to them, even though he is 12 years old", Julen laments after several months accompanying the child.

"Despite the age difference, I feel that little by little I start to get more intimate with him and he starts to be more confident and comfortable with me. It's true that we see each other once a week, but so far the feelings are very positive," she confesses.

The volunteer activities breaks down prejudices and opens consciences. This is how Julen feels when he acknowledges that he did not know how significant "the figure of the volunteer" was for a child who has had to live through something like this. "Little by little I am beginning to notice that he appreciates my presence more and more. This is especially grade when he enters the house or when he sees me and comes running to greet me. I also see it when I say goodbye because you notice how he doesn't really want you to leave."