Dear Member,
2025 has been another good year for U3A Javea. We celebrated our 20th anniversary with many of our Past Presidents, who have seen the organisation grow to around 1,200 members and over 45 Groups – hard to keep track of the exact numbers now!
Luckily, we have a good Executive Committee, there are six of us, volunteers of varied ages, nationalities and skills looking after it all. Anyway, volunteering is good for you! Thinking of others, and trying to do some good, it’s Good Karma, and good for our own wellbeing, and keeps us sharp.
Speaking of volunteering, we need a good Social Secretary / Events Manager. Surely out there, one of you has such experience? Please get in touch with me (president@u3ajavea.com) if you might be tempted to contribute to helping us organise our social agenda in some/any way. We would like to organise more events, but the present Committee is already stretched just keeping up with all you guys!
And so it is Christmas – again😊 Many of you will be out, both enjoying yourselves and contributing to local good causes – it’s nice to do both isn’t it? That way you don’t feel guilty about the first bit.
We raised a whopping 4,021.65€ for various charities this year, thank you, and we know many of you are also volunteers in various local charities.
We distributed this sum between, Make a Smile, Project4All, Asociacion Autismo Marina Alta and the DANA recovery work still ongoing by Heidi Eckert and her team through PC Highway. See below for more details of each charity and to make your own donation if you wish.
However, we know that for many of our members, this is a sad or difficult time. We are surrounded by others who feel it’s obligatory to be cheery, and that puts pressure on us. If that is you, then just lower the bar – say no, it’s not obligatory to be full of cheer, particularly when thinking about family or absent friends.
Luckily, we live in the sunshine – back ‘Home’ elderly people are locked indoors by the weather. Here, everyone makes an effort to get out, to be involved – that’s good for us all, and we live longer here because of it.
So, Merry Christmas everybody. Enjoy it in your own way. Remember to look up those you haven’t seen for a while.
See you in 2026.
Un abrazo fuerte / A big hug.
Let us raise a glass to absent friends, to Javea U3A, to a happy and healthy retirement amongst friends – Cheers, Slainte, Proost, Skal, Sante, Salud, or as the Spanish toast – Pa’ arriba, Pa’ abajo, pa centro, pa dentro (get that inta ya!)
Feliz Navidad from Claude on behalf of all the Committee
The charities you have so generously helped this year – click the image to go to their website
Make A Smile is a registered charity that helps and supports local children and disadvantaged youngsters in the community.
We are focussed on making the lives of the children and their carers much easier by providing them with everyday essentials, helping with any educational activities as well as the occasional treat!
A meal today, a future beyond homelessness tomorrow.
At Project4All, we provide shelter, meals, and long-term support to help people escape homelessness. Through community action and sustainable solutions, we restore dignity, hope, and independence to those in need.
We are MarinaTEA, a non-profit association of parents of children with autism in the Marina Alta region (Alicante), whose area of operation is the Valencian Community.
The school for ausistic children is located in Javea Port and serves children in Javea and surrounding areas. They hold regular summer schools to maintian continuity of learning for the children which is vital for them and requires extra resources.
Funds are also needed for supplies used in teaching the children and in some cases obtain a clinical assessment to enable special educational needs to be identified.
A report on the DANA after over a year since the disaster – by Heidi at PC Highway.
“A year has gone by and we are still struggling getting our friends back in their homes after the DANA flood. Insurances not paying out, institutions only working by “protocol” and politicians making promises and not delivering.
Out of 30 families heavily effected that we promised to help to get back on their feet, we managed during the year to get 9 back in their homes again.
Our fundraisers and fairs help to raise some funds to buy building materials and pay workers.
We are still, twice a week, delivering and helping. If you would like to donate money to help or to answer any questions regarding donations please contact me either on:
Email: heidi@pc-highway or WhatsApp: +34 688 692 229″