Background: As part of the Education and Social Justice Project, in June 2025, Cici Sprouse (C'26) interviewed Giraldo Sánchez, a Venezuelan sociologist completing a master’s program in applied research in social sciences at Universidad Loyola Andalucía, where he has lived for the past year after originally arriving on an exchange program. Giraldo has a long history of volunteer work, including a multiyear education program in Venezuela and a community-garden and elder-care initiative during an exchange at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. At Loyola, he is preparing to participate, for the first time, in VUELA, the university's summer international volunteer exchange program, through which he will travel to Almería to teach Spanish to migrant agricultural workers. In this interview, Giraldo discusses how his volunteer experiences in Venezuela, the United States, and now Spain connect to his academic work on climate change and migration, his evolving relationship with faith during his time in Seville, and his plans to pursue a Ph.D. studying migration.
Well, can you tell me a bit about yourself—your career, where you’re from, those kinds of things?
Okay. Well, my name is Giraldo Sánchez, and I’m from Venezuela. In Venezuela, I studied a degree in sociology, and here, I’m studying a master’s in applied research in social sciences. And, well, I’ve already been here in Seville for a year.
And how has it been for you?
Honestly, it’s been an interesting experience. I originally came for an exchange program, and in the end, I stayed. I mean, it’s a city that has helped me grow a lot; I’ve gotten to know myself much more. And, well, it’s a bit hard being far from home, but at the same time, it’s a unique experience.
Did you know anyone in Spain before coming, or not?
No. Actually, it was literally an adventure. I applied, and a month later I was already here. It all happened fast.
And how did you learn about these volunteer programs?
Well, here at the university, there’s always the screen, the one in the International Office, where they post announcements. And, honestly, last year, I wanted to get involved, but I didn’t know if I could because I was here as a scholarship student, not a regular student, so I didn’t know if it was possible. But this year, since I am a regular student, I wanted to get involved in Loyola’s experiences in any way I could. And also, because personally, I feel that, in the end, being alone–my classes are usually online—I was really missing some in-person connection with people. And, well, I found out through the screen, but also through social media, and also by meeting people at the university, because here, people have the habit of greeting you and introducing you to others. So, it’s like, “Oh, look, this person does such-and-such,” and then, you meet them and ask what they do.
Got it. Had you participated in anything similar during undergrad or before coming to Europe?
Yes, actually. I think volunteering in general is almost essential for me, part of my formation and daily life, because in Venezuela, both at my university and in my degree, I was doing volunteer work in a permanent program. It was specifically focused on education, and we also had the obligation to do it because it was an organization that gave us a scholarship and we had to complete volunteer hours. And we did it in areas like children, older adults, education, the environment. And in my last year, I went on exchange to the United States—I was in Ohio—and among the program requirements was a volunteer component. We visited places like retirement homes for the elderly, but also worked in a community garden at the university. And it was interesting because I had never worked in the field, so it was my first experience with that.
Where was it?
In Oxford, Ohio, at Miami University.
Okay, understood. And here at Loyola, which programs are you doing?
I’m going to do VUELA. VUELA is the summer international volunteer exchange program. We’ve had the preparation sessions, and I’m going to Almería to teach Spanish to the migrant population.
Can you explain a bit more about that initial preparation before going?
Sure. Since VUELA is inter-university—several universities in Spain and Portugal, if I’m not mistaken—we all come together and have training sessions before doing the volunteer work. They give us the foundations of what volunteering is, how it works legally because in Spain it’s backed by law, and they also give us an idea of what we’re going to do: testimonies, recommendations, and we talk with people who are already there. Because this volunteer program is immersive. It’s a minimum of two weeks, and those two weeks are 100% dedicated to volunteering. So, we’ve had two training sessions and two additional meetings, and now, I’m leaving on June 22nd for Almería.
So, you haven’t participated in this program before? This will be your first time in Loyola?
Yes.
And how do you feel about that?
I’m very excited because I think it aligns a lot with what I’m doing academically in my master’s. I’m writing my thesis on climate change and migration. And even though it’s from a methodological perspective, it’s still really cool to be able to experience it firsthand with such a vulnerable population. I also want to do a Ph.D. on migration, so I think this creates an important connection between academia and practice. A bit nervous because, even though I speak Spanish, I don’t speak the Spanish from Spain; I speak Latin American Spanish.
I know. For me, it’s so hard to understand it. Where do you want to do your Ph.D.?
Ideally here, at Universidad Loyola. But I’m still looking for opportunities. Maybe do a more international Ph.D., right? Although, technically, you know, sometimes, I struggle with the idea because living here already means I’m abroad, so it’s already international. But in principle, yes, I think I’d do it here, if possible, and if not, I’ll keep looking for where to do it.
How many people are going in your VUELA group?
There are four of us.
Did you know them before?
We met during the training sessions, and it was great because it’s three girls and me. The good thing is that the two girls are from the Basque country, so they already know each other. And the other girl is like me. She’s from Colombia and is living in Madrid. So, it was really cool because we’re two Latin Americans and two Basques.
Interesting that all four of you connected that day. That’s interesting. Usually, I’d ask more about your participation in Loyola’s programs, but since you’ve participated in other volunteer programs outside of this, I’d like to hear about those too, especially about your experiences in the U.S. and in Venezuela. How was that experience, and can you compare the type of work you were doing?
Good. Just compare them?
Yes, between Venezuela and the United States.
Okay. I think that in Venezuela I was much more devoted. Since it was long-term volunteering, it gave you the opportunity not only to participate but also to be a leader in the program. It was called “Orientación al Logro” and it focused on reducing high school dropout rates. So, we tried to give students alternatives for when they graduate. I had the opportunity to be part of it as a beneficiary and later as a leader. It was very beautiful because I feel like those experiences shape you. In the program, we had a green shirt. In Venezuela, school uniforms for high school are beige shirts. So, I always say it was beautiful to go from being the kid in the beige shirt receiving help to the person in the green shirt giving help to the beige-shirt kids. Those experiences show you that you’re building something. And in a country like mine, with such a difficult situation, it’s important to create opportunities. It’s not common in Venezuela, so I felt it was my duty and my chance to encourage people: “Keep studying, train yourself—opportunities will come.” Professionally and personally, it helped me grow a lot.
I had an ego issue in the program. I wanted to be the main leader, and I wasn’t chosen. But I realized what mattered was the work we were doing, not the title. That helped me a lot, and I even talked about that in my interview for the U.S. program. It made me proud because it really was something that shaped me—it made me more humble and more focused on helping others rather than on roles. In Venezuela, things depend a lot on your willpower. Sometimes, creativity is essential to make things happen. In the U.S., I saw that volunteering can be more organized, more structured. It’s not “Here, figure something out,” but rather, “This is what you have to do.”
Which do you prefer?
Honestly, I’m very passionate. So, I really like the Venezuelan style because it gave me space to contribute ideas. But the U.S. experience also helped me a lot—it made me see social differences very clearly. It’s not the same volunteering in a country with so many shortages as in one without them. But they have other problems. For example, the garden wasn’t about “how nice to work the land.” It was because the diet is often poor, supermarkets have issues, so the garden exists as a healthier alternative for the community. So, it’s different, but also important. In Venezuela, volunteer work responds to the country's reality, so creativity is key. That’s something I liked a lot about both experiences; they each marked me in different ways. Maybe if I had stayed longer in the U.S., not just one summer, I might feel differently, but since I spent 3 to 4 years in a Venezuelan program, I have more affection for that one.
Can you talk more about the connection you mentioned between your master's [degree] and the work you will do with VUELA?
I think what’s interesting about this program is that it’s immersed in a reality it doesn’t try to hide. We’re going directly to Almería, to the greenhouses. It’s an area that produces much of Spain’s food, some call it the “greenhouses of Europe.” But that also means there is exploitation and systematic human rights violations there. Still, they start from the migrant’s reality: they come to this place, or to the Global North, to work because in our countries we don’t have those opportunities. So, teaching Spanish is meant to empower people who come to work but want to escape that system and have a more just, better life. It’s a very good program because it starts from the realities that exist; it doesn’t hide them. We try to contribute from within that reality, not saying, “This is illegal, eliminate it,” but rather, “Yes, people benefit here and there, but it’s not just.” So, let’s give people tools so that in the medium and long term they can leave that system. I like it a lot because I’m also a migrant and I know what need feels like. When you’re vulnerable, you do what you have to do. So, I like being able to say, “You can get out of this system.”
Since Loyola is obviously a religious institution, were most volunteer programs you did religious?
Of the programs I’ve done, I don’t think any before this were directly religious. But I think religion is used as a tool in a good way. For example, where we’re going, the program itself isn’t religious, but we’ll stay in a house connected to the university through religious sisters. I don’t see it as belief-based, but institutional—religion creating networks and connections. It was similar in Venezuela: even though we’re a secular country, the relationships and networks allowed us to enter schools, institutions, retirement homes. And in the U.S., even if it wasn’t religious, the university’s connections opened doors. So, I think it’ll be the same here. It’s not like, “We’re Catholic, so we have to go on a pilgrimage.” No. We’re doing social work using the resources the Church provides.
Have you participated in any religious programs here in Loyola or Seville?
Yes, in a faith group. This second semester, I was part of one, and I liked it a lot. As I said, it’s also because I’ve been searching to connect with people. My experience here alone has also led me to return to my faith a bit. And I feel the nicest part is the willingness—no one is forcing me, like when family obligations made it feel mandatory. Now, I go to Mass or do what I do because I want to and because it calls me. The university has helped me rethink my faith, topics that used to bother me, like sin or restrictions, I now see through another lens as an adult. The university gave me the space for that, and I’ve enjoyed taking advantage of it.
I know you’ve already talked about how this kind of work helped your career and personal development, but could you explain that a bit more?
Well, as a sociologist, if you only focus on theoretical training and never go into the field, your formation is incomplete. Our obligation is society, especially minorities and vulnerable populations. And you can’t just read about it; it’s important to see it. My university in Caracas is in a very particular area: the campus is like a bubble, very privileged, but right across from it there’s a barrio. In Venezuela, barrios are like favelas in Brazil. And some classrooms face directly toward the barrio. Many professors would remind us: your work begins here, but it’s based on what is happening over there. Since Caracas is in a valley, the barrios climb the hillsides, and the organized city is below. People often say going into the barrios isn’t “right” or is dangerous. But the majority of the city lives there. And those communities are full of people who work and want to move forward. Seeing that firsthand removes your prejudices. So, going there, not as a tourist, but to gather data, give talks to low-income students so they can continue studying, completes what you learn in theory. You read about social classes and inequality, but seeing it is different.
And volunteering abroad also showed me theories I had studied. In the U.S., when I visited Chicago and small towns, it was incredible to see concepts from the Frankfurt School or urban sociology in real life. So, volunteering has been essential because it grounded everything I learned. I’m studying migration now, with concepts like forced migration. I’ve seen these things. I might be afraid of how intense it will be to see injustice directly, but I also like it because that’s how the world really is.
For the future, where do you want to work? I know you mentioned maybe staying in Spain, and migration issues in the U.S. are also very well-known. So, where do you imagine doing this work?
I really fell in love with the European model. I don't know if I’d want to work locally in Spain or more broadly in Europe, but I really liked the model because—given the situations happening in my continent—I think there are alternatives here. And I like that the European model isn’t so paternalistic. It’s more like, “Here are resources to move forward,” not “I’ll control you.” So, I think I would like that.
Cool. Alright, well thank you for talking with me and signing up for the interview.
