Recently, we had the opportunity to help a wonderful association called Abaka. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to support them with EUR10.000 to renovate and furnish living spaces for young people aged between 12 and 18, facing family, institutional or health crises.
Abaka: what do they do?
Abaka is more than just a residential facility. It’s an innovative educational project offering a safe environment and an attentive ear to those who feel abandoned, detached from reality or lost. These young people, often impacted by difficult family situations and abusive experiences, find a temporary but vital refuge at Abaka.
The Abaka team consists of 14 dedicated people, including educators, psychologists and social workers.
In 2022, Abaka welcomed 140 young people and housed 95 of them. However, the demand is much higher. Due to a lack of human resources and available places in the centre, Abaka had to redirect 227 young people to other facilities.
Young people arriving at Abaka can stay for up to 7 consecutive days, with the possibility of extending their stay once. As soon as they arrive, they begin a process to clarify the objectives of the intervention. The mobilisation of the family network, at the heart of their approach, is implemented progressively to encourage the maintenance and remediation of family ties. The aim of this approach is to provide a stable and supportive framework in which each young person can begin to heal and reflect on the events and traumas they have experienced.
Innovation at the heart of the social project
What makes Abaka truly unique is its innovative approach. Stays are not imposed but chosen by the young people themselves, on a voluntary basis. This freedom of choice allows young people to invest themselves fully in the process of reflection and healing. The time spent at Abaka is dedicated to reflecting on their past experiences, sharing their suffering and, through daily shared activities, each day is an opportunity to rebuild their self-confidence.
Our contribution – your impact!
We are proud to have contributed to this project by renovating and furnishing the relaxation areas, bedrooms and terrace, which are now havens of peace for these young people. Our mission is to continue to support initiatives like Abaka, which place people and innovation at the heart of their actions.
Together, we can offer young people in difficulty a chance to rebuild their lives, regain their confidence and believe in their potential. We invite all those who share our vision to join us and support our actions.