In April 2023, after many years at the Inn on the Green, Jávea Green Bowls Club found themselves homeless. The owner of the property had sold it to be redeveloped as the Grand Cafe Flo.
So began a journey to find a new home in Jávea. Regrettably, after a long search, the Club members decided that there were no suitable premises in Jávea and that the Club should be wound up.
The members of the club decided that the assets and funds they had accumulated should be used to benefit other bowling clubs and local charities in Javea and the Marina Alta.
And so it was that U3A Jávea member Janet Neale contacted U3A Jávea President Claude Grealy to ask for advice on which charity they might support.
Claude introduced Project4all, (one of U3A Jávea’s Member Support Network’s chosen Help organisations), and the Bowls Club committee agreed that this would be included in the charities receiving money (to see the full list of Help organisations, click HERE).
“Project4all is an all-inclusive organization whose mantra is “Cook for the Homeless”. Our aim is to find likeminded members of our community and work together so we can help people in need.”
So, on Tuesday, accompanied by Steve Young, the U3A Jávea’s Communication Officer, Janet met up with Project4all founder Arne Soeten in Benissa to look at the facilities which have been developed to help the homeless in the Marina Alta.
Every morning, Project4all prepares 40 meals (60 on a Wednesday) for homeless people. But this is no soup kitchen. Arne and his team take the meals out on the streets to the people they refer to as their “Friends” in the Project4all van.
Project4all’s “Friends” aren’t easy to see or to find and Steve and Janet were surprised to learn that Arne and his team work with up to 125 people in this area. Many have been left behind, ignored, dehumanised and abused, leaving them feeling worthless and unimportant.
The Project4all team hit the streets to give their “Friends” some much needed love, attention and human contact and their reward is to see people after they’ve had some positivity and care injected into their day.
As well as feeding the homeless, Project4all tries to give their “Friends” a little push towards changing their lives. It might be bringing them back to Benissa for a shower or to wash their clothes. It might be some medical treatment or helping with paperwork but the aim is always to set them back on a path to being reintegrated in society.
Both Janet and Steve were hugely impressed with the facilities at Benissa. Arne spoke with passion about his plans for the future. Recently, Project4all has started to help homeless people in Denia and hope, in due course, to have a physical presence there.
After a fascinating and enlightening tour of Project4all’s headquarters, Janet was delighted to present Arne with the sum of €300 as a donation from Jávea Green Bowls Club.
If any U3A Jávea member wants to make a donation to Project4all, you can do so through their website which can be accessed HERE.
Reporter: Steve Young
