After a full work week, I am volunteering with my daughter to help people and villages impacted by the devastating floods in Spain’s city of Valencia, representing SIETAR Europa, (a nonprofit organization: Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research) SIETAR España, and Valencia.
Intense rainfall in eastern Spain produced deadly and destructive flash floods in the province of Valencia. On October 29, 2024, more than 300 millimeters (12 inches) of rain fell in parts of the province, reported Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET. In the town of Chiva, nearly 500 millimeters (20 inches) fell in 8 hours. ~ NASA Earth Observatory
But just days ago, I was in Madrid, participating in the United Nations International Day for Care and Support( October 29th), discussing the migrant diaspora in Spain. Little did I know that on my return, I would encounter such profound evidence of climate change in my own community. Due to road closures, I spent two nights in my car just 80 kilometers from home, witnessing firsthand the growing intensity of our planet’s climate crises.
These experiences have brought questions to my mind that I’d like to share with you:
- How can we strengthen our commitment to volunteerism as a response to climate-related disasters?
- What role can each of us play in our communities to increase resilience and support those affected by extreme weather events?
- How can we better support and prepare migrant and diaspora communities who may be particularly vulnerable during such events?
- In what ways can we, as interculturalists, promote deeper awareness of climate change impacts across cultures and borders?
As I continue volunteering today, I reflect on how critical it is for us all to treat our Earth with greater care and respect.
Let us be reminded that climate action begins with individual responsibility, supported by collective action. We are all interconnected, and we all have a role in building a more sustainable future.
On the road, exhausted and longing to be home, I found myself in a whirlwind of emotions. Family, friends, and colleagues from all over the world kept calling, their concern and support constantly lifting my spirits. Even though I was tired, their connection made me feel surrounded by love and strength, reminding me that I wasn’t alone in that moment. It’s in times like these that you truly feel the power of community.
Life has a way of guiding us even in unexpected moments. That day in Madrid, I spent three hours helping a migrant colleague navigate institutional support, something that delayed my journey back to Valencia. In the end, that delay was a blessing, as it meant I missed the worst of the flooding and road closures on my original schedule.
During those road closures, I met @Emmanuel Augustin Emba FCIPS a fellow Senegalese living in Dubai, for the first time. We spent two days together, talking and reflecting deeply about Senegal and our journeys. It’s remarkable how in the midst of challenges, these meaningful connections and moments of reflection emerge.
News outlets reported on October 30 that around 100 people—including at least 40 in the town of Paiporta—died in the flooding, and more remained missing. Infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and rail lines sustained damage, and photos show displaced vehicles and debris filling city streets. A military emergency unit deployed more than 1,100 personnel to support rescue operations in the region.” ~NASA Earth Observatory
Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images. https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/spain03-gettyimages-2182886836.jpg?q=w_1576,c_fill
- Coming together in our climate crises – by Papa Balla Ndong - November 9, 2024