Shadows in Paradise:

Why 2.5 months of summer vacation in Mallorca is not a dream for many children

Sun, beach, and carefree days – that’s the perfect Mallorca summer for millions of tourists. But away from the shiny facades, one of the toughest times of the year begins in June for many local families. When schools close for two and a half months, an often invisible drama begins for socially disadvantaged children.

The flip side of the holiday destination

Mallorca has two faces. While the island booms in summer, many families struggle in the background for mere survival. The Spanish summer holidays last nearly ten weeks, making it extremely long. For single or low-income parents working in tourism or low-wage sectors, this time poses a logistical and financial impossibility.

Private childcare is unaffordable. Many parents face an existential dead-end: either the children are left to fend for themselves all day – or the job is lost because childcare cannot be secured. The latter often means a direct plunge into absolute poverty.

When home isn't a safe place

However, the childcare problem is only half the truth. For many children from extremely unstable backgrounds – marked by acute poverty, homelessness, or addiction issues within the family – school is often the only place that provides stability, structure, and safety.

When this safe haven is absent for two and a half months, they face home pressures around the clock. There are no regular meals, no interaction with peers, and above all, there is a lack of a carefree childhood.

Our response: A summer full of opportunities and safety

We at Fundació Predator refuse to look away. With our summer schools and camps, we provide the bridge that these families so desperately need right now.

Our goal is to take the children out of their stressful everyday contexts as often and as regularly as possible and to provide them with a stable, normal environment. In our camps, we give them:

Structured routine & security: Reliable care, a structured daily routine, and educational stability.

Healthy nutrition: Regular, hot meals, which unfortunately are not always a given at home.

A real childhood: Space to play, learn, laugh, and just be kids – far away from the worries of adults.

At the same time, we relieve the parents and actively secure their jobs because they know their children are safe.

You can make a real difference!

Such an offer is only possible through a strong community. Every donation goes 100% directly into the organization, nutrition, and educational care of our summer projects here in Mallorca.

Help us bring these children out of isolation and give them a safe, happy summer.

👉 Make summer fair for all. Donate now and help us provide more children with a safe summer and more parents with a secure job!