In a heartwarming initiative, Erasmus+ students and eco-delegates organized a solidarity market with two main goals: to recycle and repurpose items that we no longer use, and to raise funds to support associations that help those in need. The project involved local high schools—Elexalde, Andra Mari, Bengoetxe, and Eguzkibegi—each of which took charge of different market stalls.

Elexalde High School worked alongside the city hall to gather the necessary materials, such as chairs and tables, to set up the market. Between April 15th and May 3rd, students collected a wide range of items from the community—clothes, accessories, books, video games, toys, and more. With the help of Erasmus students and eco-delegates, the items were sorted into categories to determine their usefulness.

On May 17th, teachers, Erasmus+ students, and eco-delegates set up the market stalls in Galdacano’s city hall square, offering second-hand items to locals at affordable prices. The proceeds were then donated to the Solidarity Refrigerator, an initiative launched in Galdacano on April 29th, 2015. The refrigerator aims to save food from waste and redistribute it to those in need.

After a successful month-long trial, the city hall saw the positive impact of the project, with around 300 kg of food saved every month from going to landfills. Today, the Solidarity Refrigerator has expanded, with more than 20 refrigerators in various locations across Spain, including Euskadi, Toledo, Valencia, Zaragoza, Galicia, Barcelona, and Madrid. Even countries like Mexico, Chile, and Argentina are now looking to collaborate.

Through the solidarity market, we were able to contribute to this growing movement, helping those in need while promoting sustainability and community support. It was a meaningful opportunity to give back to our community, helping people who may not have access to much.