Thursday, June 26, a young couple enter, out of desperation, to the ADINTRE centre in Fuengirola, run by Joyce Gyimah BEM. They need food and help. They have nowhere else to go. Like hundreds of similar cases on the Costa del Sol, they have just been evicted for non-payment of rent after the man in the relationship had not been paid for 5 months on a construction project he was working on in Marbella. She, his partner, is 5 months pregnant, and tonight, Thursday June 26, 2025, is the first night in their lives they will have to sleep on the streets. This is just one of an ever increasing number of cases that ADINTRE deal with on a daily basis. Victims of circumstance who had little to start with and, through no fault of their own, have lost everything. Even with the number of modest guesthouses along the coast, at this time of year, the market decides the price, and now it is at a premium out of most people’s reach. For a quarter of a century, Joyce Gyimah BEM has given over her life to doing all and everything she can to pick people up in similar situations, and put them back on their feet – giving people a second chance at life – starting, all-importantly, with a lovingly cooked square meal. On Wednesday, June 25, Joyce was present at the Festival Soles de Málaga cheque presentation ceremony which demonstrated that benevolence knows no limits on the Costa del Sol. The organisation managed to raise more than €155,000 for 11 Malaga-based NGOs that fight against poverty and social exclusion. The festival helped raise the funds bringing together more than 3,000 people under the slogan #ParaLuchaAyuda, demonstrated that when Malaga unites, its benevolence has no limits. Of that €155,000, about €9,000 corresponds to ADINTRE. The €9,000 will go a long way, but not all the way to be able to contract a much needed full-time psychologist. Losing everything – becoming destitute – cast aside by society – is emotionally and psychologically devastating. Just “going out and getting a job” is a gargantuan task when all your pride and self-esteem has been swept away. That’s what ending up on the streets does to people. That is why ADINTRE urgently needs a psychologist now. A full-time psychologist would cost the organisation €2,800 per month. Currently they rely on a volunteer psychologist for an hour and a half 5 days per week. According to Joyce, she does an amazing job, but so much more is needed. Even if ADINTRE can get a part-time one, that will be something to get people back on their feet again. Currently, much of ADINTRE’s work has been going into visiting the elderly and alone, helping out, offering to drive the elderly to essential doctor’s visits, and the like, and of course, delivering a healthy meal where needed. The Euro Weekly News asked Joyce what her dream was, and as humbly as ever she replied, “One day I dream of an apartment we have with three or four bedrooms where cases like the couple (mentioned above) can spend a couple of months with a roof over their heads and a healthy meal from us, and the help of a psychologist, and can get back on their feet again.” Donations will be gratefully received at CUENTA DE UNICAJA: 2103 0135 72 0030016203 a nombre de Asociación ADINTRE, IBAN: ES3621030135720030016203, BIC/SWIFT: UCJAES2MXXX. Many are actively helping, but much more is needed. For example, the Rotary Club of Marbella are holding a charity golf tournament and gala dinner on July 18 to raise as much as possible for Joyce’s cause. Tickets for the magical event at Finca La Concepción are available from info@rotaryclubmarbell.es or WhatsApp (+34) 610 080 442.