helping- Madrid Spain

Five Years of help and international cooperation
​NhN Madrid  85 successes
​November 5, 2014 - June 30, 2019
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​For five meaningful years, Neighbors‑Helping‑Neighbors USA (NhNUSA) was honored to have an active partnership based in Madrid, Spain, working alongside dedicated local partners who shared our belief in community, collaboration, and service. What began as a simple connection grew into a valuable cross‑cultural exchange built on trust, shared values, and a common commitment to helping people navigate work, transitions, and opportunity during challenging times.
This partnership reinforced an important lesson I continue to carry forward: the need for support, dignity, and human connection transcends borders. While circumstances and chapters evolve, the relationships, learning, and mutual respect developed during our work in Madrid remain an important part of the NhNUSA story and my own personal journey.
— John R. Fugazzie
Founder, Neighbors‑Helping‑Neighbors USA
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Latest news about our partners in Spain

​The project that is transforming food banks into supermarketsThe Un Kilo de Ayuda market allows families to choose what food to take home and not be limited to a closed basket.

​Pablo Aledo , Director of the Altius Foundation, about an alliance that is transforming something as basic as access to food into a dignified experience.

​Read about the best canned tuna in the world Spain is a global leader

Pablo Aledo Martínez
Director General (Managing Director), Fundación Altius España
Pablo Aledo Martínez is the Director General of Fundación Altius España, a nonprofit organization focused on social inclusion, workforce integration, food security, and support for vulnerable populations across Spain. He has held senior leadership responsibility at the foundation since at least 2011, acting as its legal representative and principal executive. [boe.es]

Professional Role and Focus
As Director General, Aledo oversees the strategic direction, partnerships, and national operations of Fundación Altius, which operates in major regions including Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Seville, and Andalusia. The foundation works primarily in:

• Labor market integration and employment training
• Support for unemployed adults and at‑risk youth
• Food rescue and distribution programs, most notably 1 Kilo de Ayuda
• Public‑private collaborations with corporations, universities, and government agencies [fundacionaltius.org], [regnumchristi.es]

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Public‑Private and Institutional Collaboration
Under Aledo’s leadership, Fundación Altius has established partnerships with major institutions such as:

• Endesa Foundation, co‑launching the ENTI Employment Training Center in Madrid
• Fundación “la Caixa”, through employment and inclusion programs
• Cepsa Foundation, which awarded Altius a Social Value Award
• Banco Santander, Amazon Web Services, Sodexo, and Ferrovial, among others [endesa.com], [fundacionaltius.org], [regnumchristi.es]

These partnerships reflect a model that brings corporate social responsibility, faith‑based social action (through Regnum Christi), and grassroots support together.

Social Impact and Recent Work
In 2024–2025, Fundación Altius reported assisting tens of thousands of individuals annually, with expanded logistics and emergency response following the DANA floods in Valencia, coordinating large‑scale volunteer and donation efforts. Aledo frequently represents the foundation in media interviews, conferences, and sector debates on third‑sector innovation and digital transformation. [regnumchristi.es], [fundacionaltius.org], [la999.es]
Leadership StylePublic statements and appearances consistently emphasize:

• Dignity‑centered accompaniment, not just aid
• Collaboration across sectors and borders
• Long‑term employability over short‑term relief
• A strong belief in community networks as engines of social resilience [linkedin.com], [regnumchristi.es]

How this connects to our NhN- Madrid partnershipGiven his role and tenure, Pablo Aledo was a central institutional figure in Madrid’s nonprofit and social‑impact ecosystem during the years we maintained NhN‑related partnerships there. His work reflects the same values of cross‑sector collaboration, employment support, and community response that defined our Madrid chapter.

Madrid, Spain updates​
​Spain has a diverse and robust economy with several key industry sectors driving its growth:

1. Tourism: One of the most significant sectors, tourism accounts for about 11% of Spain's GDP. Spain is the world's third-most popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors annually[1].
2. Manufacturing: This sector includes the production of automobiles, machinery, and pharmaceuticals. Spain is the second-largest automobile manufacturer in Europe and the eighth-largest in the world[1].
3. Agriculture: Spain is a major producer of agricultural products, including wine, olive oil, and citrus fruits. The agricultural sector contributes significantly to the country's exports[2].
4. Energy: Spain has invested heavily in renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar power. The country is a leader in renewable energy production in Europe[1].
5. Services: The services sector, which includes finance, telecommunications, and business services, employs a large portion of the workforce and is a major contributor to the economy[2].

These sectors collectively support Spain's economic stability and growth. If you have any specific questions about these industries or others, feel free to ask!

References
[1] The Biggest Industries In Spain - WorldAtlas
[2] Economy of Spain - Wikipedia
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Madrid's employment situation shows some positive trends:

1. Unemployment Rate: The number of unemployed individuals in Madrid decreased by 4,943 in June 2023 compared to the previous year, marking a reduction of 1.61%[1]. The unemployment rate has been below the threshold of 3 million people for 14 consecutive months[1].
2. Job Creation: Madrid has been leading in job creation within Spain. As of July 2023, the city registered 357 new jobs daily[1].
3. Sector Distribution: Over 87% of the employed population in Madrid works in the services sector, which includes commerce, transport, social services, business services, hospitality, and health[2]. Other significant sectors include finance, telecommunications, cultural and publishing industries, freight transport, and software development[1].
4. Teleworking: One in four teleworkers in Spain is based in Madrid[1].

Overall, Madrid's labor market is showing resilience and growth, particularly in the services and technology sectors. If you have any specific questions or need more details, feel free to ask!

References
[1] The Madrid labor market - Madrid Guide - Expat.com
[2] Employment by economic sector in Madrid 2024 | Statista
Five Years of help and international cooperation .....NhN Madrid  85 successesNovember 5, 2014 - June 30, 2019
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Unemployment Rates NhN Madrid
​Started 5 th noviembre de 2014
November 5, 2014 
Closed June 30, 2019
JohnRFugazzie.comwww.linkedin.com/in/johnrfugazzie

Employment Data LinkedIn Espana Slideshare

Neighbors-helping-Neighbors Madrid News ! 
NhN Madrid program suspended for Summer 2019 with hopes of reopening as a Video Conferenced Meeting

​4.3.19 NhN Madrid Spain
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El día de hoy realizamos una visita a las instalaciones de CDK Global en Tres Cantos, ha sido una estupenda oportunidad para dar a conocer el Programa NHN y también para conocer la experiencia de esta gran empresa. !Muchas gracias por vuestra acogida!
Automatic translation

Today we made a visit to the facilities of CDK Global in Tres Cantos, has been a great opportunity to make known the Program NHN and also to know the experience of this great company. ! Thank you Very Much for your welcome!

​​ Neighbors helping Neighbors Madrid had it's annual closing get together. Pablo Aledo spoke about Fundación Altius Francisco de Vitoria - 1 Kilo de Ayuda.

He explained how they help families in need, they train unemployed people for becoming waiters, cooks, wharehouse employees, etc Within this context #NeighnorshelpingNeighborsMadrid makes a meaningful contribution by becoming a vehicle for the unemployed to be re-inserted in the market. Coaches and facilitators received their Certificates and Diplomas.

There were three beautiful baskets that were raffled, the contents were supplied by Altius and Universidad Francisco de Vitoria. We are so greatful to all for coming, to all those that helped by volunteering their time and talents.

​Thank you Eugenia Estella for being a faithful partner and a great coach! Marta Yarto Ferrández, we welcome you back! Cristina Otalora Miranda, your help in setting all this up was a great contribution. Catia Rinaldi, from Altius, is our guardian angel...she is always there for us, lending a hand and making things possible! Maria Fernandez Nogueira, Thank you for your help and support.

The baskets looked beautiful! John R. Fugazzie MBA, our mentor and inspiration, was mentioned all along the ceremony and cocktail party.

NhN Spain 
85 Success Stories in 5 Years

​2019    10 landed  
2018    17 landed
2017    16 landed
NHN Spain partnership with Fundacion Altius in Universidad Francisco de Vitoria Group of +20 participants, where 80% of them have found jobs. 

2016     15 landed
We opened a new group in another church (Boadilla del monte) with 18-20 participants, again the same figures about 75% of them found jobs.

Mariano Castañeira decided then to work independently from any religious site, church or charity institution and partnered with Ufv.

2015 
Newly created group started running in a church supported by Caritas assistance.

1st group of highly skilled professionals: 75% of them found jobs within a time range of 3 months to one year. 12 landed

2nd group of low qualification and under skilled participants just 20% of them found jobs, the remaining 80% went back to charity assistance and social support.  3 landed

​2014 
Group of 12 people, 100% participants found jobs within 3 months of having created this first group. (50% in just 11 weeks)   12 landed

Unemployment in Spain

Unemployment in France

Unemployment in Portugal
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Unemployment in
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Unemployment in Belgium

Unemployment in Germany

​Unemployment in Austria

Unemployment in Greece
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​Unemployment in United Kingdom

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