A new home for particularly vulnerable children and young people is set to be established in the province of Málaga—not merely within a single family, but ideally right in the midst of a village community. The association Corazones Blancos aims to expand its existing network of foster families by specifically recruiting people in the province’s smaller towns and villages.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
The focus is on the idea of offering children in difficult life situations more than just a place to stay; rather, they are to receive a stable family environment, emotional support, and a social network. The association believes that the smaller communities in the interior of Málaga, in particular, offer ideal conditions for this.
Not just a roof over one’s head
For Corazones Blancos, supporting a child neither begins nor ends with the provision of a room or an apartment. In the organization’s view, children and young people who have gone through difficult experiences need, above all, safety, trust, and reliable caregivers.
For this reason, Corazones Blancos focuses on placement in foster families while also seeking to more actively involve the children’s social environment. The goal is to supplement – or ideally replace – traditional placement in care facilities with a family and community-based setting.
The association already has a network of families who temporarily take in particularly vulnerable children. This network is now to be expanded to include additional municipalities throughout the province of Málaga.
Why the white villages of Málaga in particular?
The “Pueblos Blancos” – the white villages in the interior of Málaga province – play a special role in the project. Social ties there tend to be closer than in large cities. According to Corazones Blancos, this makes it easier for children to build relationships with others and participate more actively in community life.
The association sees this as an opportunity to restore a sense of belonging to children who have had difficult experiences. The aim is not merely to place them in a foster family, but for them to become part of an environment where they can get to know people, build trust, and settle in for the long term.
The association argues that such an environment can play an important role, particularly for children who have already experienced instability or other distressing situations.
Three pillars of care
The Corazones Blancos concept therefore goes beyond the mere placement of foster families. The work is based on three central areas:
The first priority is to expand the number of foster families in smaller communities and rural areas. The aim is for families to provide children with a stable home and a reliable daily routine. This goes explicitly beyond mere accommodation; the children’s emotional and personal development lies at the heart of the approach.
Volunteer and mentoring programs constitute another component. The aim is for children and young people to gain additional adult figures who can provide guidance. This can be particularly important for young people approaching the transition to adulthood; mentors serve as points of contact and support them on their path toward greater independence.
The third pillar consists of activities within the respective local communities. These are intended to help children make connections more easily and feel like part of the local area. In doing so, the association pursues an approach in which responsibility is not borne solely by the foster family; the community itself is meant to become part of the support network.
“An entire village can change the future”
For Marisa Alario, president of Corazones Blancos, this very sense of community is crucial. She describes the initiative’s goal essentially as follows: If a home can transform a child’s life, then an entire community has the power to transform that child’s future.
The project is therefore not aimed exclusively at people who wish to become foster parents themselves. Individuals who want to volunteer or mentor young people can also become part of the initiative.
Small communities as social anchors
For the province of Málaga, the approach is also of interest against the backdrop of the differing development of the coast and the interior.
While the city of Málaga and numerous towns along the Costa del Sol have grown significantly in recent years, some smaller inland municipalities are struggling with population decline and an aging population. Consequently, various measures are already being implemented in the province to make smaller communities more attractive and to counteract further depopulation.
While the foster family project pursues a different goal, it could simultaneously help strengthen social structures in these communities. What matters is not the size of a village, but the ability to provide children with a stable and supportive environment.
Association seeking more families
Corazones Blancos is opening the initiative to people interested in getting involved. Those interested can contact the association directly to find out about the requirements for volunteering or taking in a foster child.
The association can be reached via its website, Corazones Blancos, as well as by email at corazonesblancosmalaga@gmail.com.
One family – and an entire community
The Corazones Blancos project thus places at its center a question that goes beyond the mere search for foster families: What should an environment look like in which children can regain a sense of trust and security after difficult experiences?
The association’s answer is: not just through a single family, but through an entire network of foster parents, mentors, volunteers, and neighbors.
In particular, the small white villages in the interior of Málaga are intended to become places where vulnerable children and young people can find not only a temporary home but also a sense of belonging, social connections, and new perspectives.
