360 children and 595 adults to benefit from extensive trauma support camps, legal advice and resilience training

Funding of over 200,000 EUR is provided through TUI Care Foundation’s Emergency Fund, which is made possible by donations from TUI customers with match funding from the Foundation’s side

In October 2024, the region of Valencia was struck by one of the most extreme weather events in recent Spanish history. A DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) storm brought record-breaking rainfall, triggering severe flash floods that devastated homes, schools, and communities. More than 230 lives were lost, 90 schools were affected and over 163,000 children were impacted - many of them displaced or left without access to basic education.

Immediately after this disastrous weather event, the TUI Care Foundation launched an emergency fundraising appeal, raising donations to fund a long-term relief programme. This initiative, which will run from March 2025 to March 2027, focuses on both immediate trauma recovery and long-term resilience for communities in the municipalities of Alfafar and Castellar L’Oliveral. At the heart of the initiative are specially designed “Colonies of Support and Trauma Recovery,” which provide 360 children in 5th and 6th grades with three-night, four-day camps that combine outdoor activities with psychosocial care. These camps, already successfully piloted in 2024, help children process their experiences, reconnect with peers, and begin their emotional healing journey.

In parallel, the initiative works within three local primary education centres to deliver broader community support. This includes psychosocial intervention during and outside of school hours, legal and social counselling for 595 adults facing property loss and debt issues, as well as educational and recreational workshops for children. The activities aim to support the normalisation process for both students and parents and promote life skills such as empathy, assertiveness, and conflict resolution. Sessions on children’s rights are also included to foster awareness and advocacy among the younger generation.

Alexander Panczuk, Managing Director of the TUI Care Foundation, said: “After the tragic October floods, children and families in Valencia need more than reconstruction - they need pathways back to emotional stability and hope. Thanks to our Emergency Relief Fund and collaboration with Educo, we can equip young people and adults with the tools to process trauma, regain confidence, and restore routines. Investing in psychosocial recovery now builds stronger, more resilient communities for the future.”

Pilar Orenes, Executive Director of Educo added: “We are honoured to scale up our recovery colonies and deliver targeted support across educational centres. Our holistic approach ensures children and families receive psychosocial care, legal guidance, and opportunities for creative and emotional development—crucial steps in returning to a sense of normality and safety.”

This programme is fully financed through donations to the TUI Emergency Relief Fund by TUI customer and colleagues. Many parts of the TUI business supported the fundraising appeal, including TUI Airways in the UK and Ireland who collected donations from passengers onboard TUI flights; and ROBINSON and TUI MAGIC LIFE clubs in Portugal and Spain, who collected donations from guests and whose donations were matched by the TUI Care Foundation.

The project builds on the successful partnership between the TUI Care Foundation and Educo, which has already delivered impactful results in terms of psychosocial support for children through its TUI Junior Academy in La Palma, which was setup as a response to the volcanic eruptions on the island.