La Bolina
Our Legacy
(2017 – 2025)
La Bolina was a bold experiment in ecological, regenerative, and intercultural living. Based in El Valle, southern Spain, from 2017 to 2025, it became a model of how small-scale grassroots action can create systemic ripples—challenging extractive food systems, supporting migrant justice, and reimagining local economies.
Education
Education
La Bolina Training Centre
In 28 training programs more than 120 people participated in La Bolina courses in Permaculture, Agroecology, Social Transformation, Theatre for Change, Leadership, Alternative Economics, Community development, Power and Privilege, Alternative ways of Organising, Social Art…
EDUCATION
Refugee Week
In 2018 we organised Granada’s Refugee Week, a festival of food, art, and dialogue co-created with young migrants from over 12 countries, supported by the #FightInequalities campaign.
EDUCATION
Holistic education for Social Action
Following head, heart and hands – our approach to in-formal and non-formal education was always experiencial, practice-based and focused on building agency.
Sustainable Livelihoods
SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
Cultivando Futuros
Eight editions of Cultivating Futures trained more than 50 migrant and refugee participants to gain practical skills, experience and knowledge in agroecology, permaculture, commercialisation and personal empowerment. This training led to the Cultivando Futuros Certificate awarded by La Bolina. Many graduates went on to do ecological work placements, further training or sustainable employment.
SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
Dignified Employment
We supported more than 12 people that have migrated to gain access to sustainable and dignified livelihoods, leadership opportunities, and meaningful roles within and beyond La Bolina.
SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
Work placements
Internship programme supported 10 people increasing skills on farming, commercialisation and communication.
Through the European Entrepreneurship Programme, 3 people have come to learn and replicate the project in their countries of origin.
Regeneration
REGENERATION
Land Regeneration
3 hectares were regenerated using agroecological and permaculture principles to grow organic vegetables for local markets.
2 abandoned council-owned buildings were repurposed to host La Bolina activities such as Saleres School (La Bolina Learning Centre), Restábal School (La Bolina Office)
REGENERATION
Organic Veg Box
Our Organic Veg Box, grown, harvested, prepared and delivered by La Bolina members fed 30 families each week for four years. 10 local producers also sold their products through La Bolina. We also were part of a group who set up a regular local and ecological market.
REGENERATION
Growing in Schools
La Bolina collaborated with four local schools running nature connection, agroecology and environmental programmes.
Community organising
COMMUNITY ORGANISING
Social Centre
El AlmaZen
La Bolina’s Social Centre
El AlmaZen (Restabal) organised more than 10 cultural events in each year…
From music jam sessions, community meals, artisan and second-hand markets, seed exchanges, cinema nights, awareness-raising events, talks, workshops, eco shop and regular ran as a pop-up restaurant
COMMUNITY ORGANISING
Local Events
La Bolina organised many create events such as a large-scale mural project in collaboration with the local council that shared local heritage and future dreams of the local community
We also organised many ecological events including open days, network of local producers, led or participated in eco fairs, talks and provincial markets.
COMMUNITY ORGANISING
The Plastic Sea
Over many years we did social actions with the migrant community working in the greenhouses in Almeria. We organised trips to the beach for families. And shared meals for women who wanted to campaign about their workers rights. Friends of La Bolina donated second hand clothes and bikes. This led to sustained embodied research on micro/macro rupture in sites of systemic harm.
Social Art And Advocacy
SOCIAL ART AND ADVOCACY
Social Theatre
La Bolina developed immersive Forum Theatre works in collaboration with migrants and refugees through its Social Theatre workshops. The performances explored belonging, diversity, migration, and racism, with narratives co-created from participants’ lived experiences.
Audiences were invited to step on stage and experiment with ways of transforming the scenes. The work was shared with mixed audiences of migrants, refugees, and local communities, and was followed by shared meals, discussion, and celebration.
SOCIAL ART AND ADVOCACY
Supermarket Museum
La Bolina organised many create events such as a large-scale mural project in collaboration with the local council that shared local heritage and future dreams of the local community
We also organised many ecological events including open days, network of local producers, led or participated in eco fairs, talks and provincial markets.
SOCIAL ART AND ADVOCACY
Arts for Justice Residencies
Over many years we did social actions with the migrant community working in the greenhouses in Almeria. We organised trips to the beach for families. And shared meals for women who wanted to campaign about their workers rights. Friends of La Bolina donated second hand clothes and bikes. This led to sustained embodied research on micro/macro rupture in sites of systemic harm.
International Collaboration
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
The Art of Moving Forward
The Art of Moving Forward: Migrant Empowerment – Creative Tools for Community Building and Advocating Labour Rights was a collaboration between La Bolina (Spain), Lesvos Solidarity (Greece), and the Association of Theatre Pedagogues (Poland). Formed in 2023, the partnership worked across three countries with migrant women’s groups in different legal contexts, within a shared European Union migration framework.
All partners were grassroots organisations with extensive experience in migrant and refugee work. The project centred migrant-led empowerment through participatory research methods and social arts advocacy, with a focus on women’s labour rights.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
Diaspora in Action
As part of the EU-funded AMIF project Diaspora in Action: Mobilizing the Senegalese diaspora to raise awareness about irregular migration, La Bolina worked as the Spanish partner organisation alongside Senegalese diaspora communities in Spain. Through ten video-creation workshops, participants produced testimonial films on migration, work, and belonging, including an award-winning music video created in collaboration with a well-known Senegalese musician.
The work formed part of a wider international cultural intervention, using creative media to centre diaspora voices and challenge dominant narratives around migration.
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8
JOBS FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
8 migrants and refugees secured dignified employment jobs through our social enterprises initiatives
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7
FAMILIES
RURAL REPOPULA
TION
7 families (23 adults and children) moved to El Valle through the project and continue to live there today.
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6000
VEG BOXES DELIVERED
Our Organic Veg Box fed 30 families each week for four years
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28
LEARNING
PROGRAMS
Our Learning Centre hosted more than 28 transformative trainings, residencies, and hosted intercultural community life.
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100
VOLUNTEERS
Over 100 volunteers from around the world joined La Bolina to live, learn, and co-create solidarity and regeneration