Updated: March 2009
Spain
Overview | World Vision's history in Spain | World Vision in Spain today
OverviewThe Kingdom of Spain is located in southwestern Europe, between France and Portugal. Comprising the majority of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain is bordered by the Bay of Biscay to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. The small country of Andorra lies to the northeast on the border with France. The Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from Morocco, and the Balearic Islands sit to the east. Large plateaus and rugged hills cover most of the country, and are surrounded by coastal lowlands and mountains. The Pyrenees Mountains line the boundary between Spain and France. Natural resources include coal, iron ore, uranium, mercury, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, and hydroelectric power.Spain has a lower population density than most of its European neighbors, though in recent years, many people from North Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe have chosen to immigrate to Spain. The population is now concentrated in the cities, as many are moving away from rural areas. Spaniards trace their ethnic roots to both Mediterranean and Nordic peoples. Castilian Spanish is the official language; other languages include Catalan, Galician, and Basque. |  |
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| Spain was established as a unified country in 1522, following years of struggle between the Visigoths and the Moors. With the help of prosperous conquests in the New World, Spain became a center of European power in the 16th century. Yet the peace and prosperity of this period did not last. After multiple wars and inner conflicts, Spain’s power diminished, and in 1936, the country erupted into civil war. Three years of fighting ended when Spain fell under the leadership of dictator Francisco Franco. It was not until 1975, following Franco’s death, that democracy returned and Spain began to flourish. Today, Spain is a parliamentary monarchy with a king who serves as chief of state and a president who heads the government. Spain has 17 autonomous communities, including the Canary and Biscay Islands. Spain’s greatest threat is terrorism, particularly from a group known as Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA), an organization that uses violence to promote a Basque independence movement. In 2007, the ETA repealed a cease-fire that began in 2006, and they began to threaten more violence. In 1986, Spain joined the European Union, an act that brought steady economic growth and modernization leading into the 1990s. During this time, Spain’s industrial sector developed, and they increased trade with other countries. Now, industries such as textiles, food and beverage, metals, and chemicals account for nearly 30 percent of the gross domestic product. Despite a continuing unemployment problem, Spain’s economy remains strong. Compulsory education is provided through age 16. In secondary school, students receive either a high school diploma or technical training. Many continue on to universities where they can choose from any field of study, and the average citizen receives a total of 16 years of education Back to top World Vision’s history in SpainWorld Vision’s office in Spain was founded in 2001 and began working as a fundraising office three years later. The first child sponsorship campaign was launched that year, with the support of a Spanish television celebrity, Carlos Sobera. Sobera sponsored a girl from Guatemala and became the first person from Spain to participate in child sponsorship.Initially, World Vision’s office in Spain focused on raising funds for development activities in Guatemala, Mali, and the Philippines. The office quickly built its network and relations with other development organizations, government institutions, and private donors, and began successfully raising funds for major emergencies, including the natural disasters that affected Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Back to top World Vision in Spain todayIn 2007, Spain reached the milestone of 10,000 child sponsors, supporting communities and children in seven countries: Guatemala, Bolivia, Mali, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mongolia, and the Philippines.Plans for the future include increasing awareness about the causes of poverty in the world—specifically the areas in which Spanish residents can support children through World Vision. The office in Spain also plans to engage in more fundraising for development projects and relief response. For more information on World Vision’s work in Spain, please contact the United States office. Back to top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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