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Who We Are

Oasis Center is located in the heart of Lavapiés, Madrid, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Europe, where over 90 nationalities are represented. The center’s primary mission is to bridge the growing gap between the marginalized immigrant population in Madrid and the larger Spanish society through non-formal and holistic education. Throughout the year, Oasis Center offers various educational programs such as Spanish literacy, English, after-school help for children, as well as fine arts courses such as music, painting and dance. At the heart of each class, our priority is to develop meaningful relationships inside and outside the classroom that will lead our students toward a healthy and successful future.    

 

Beyond providing access to practical skills and resources that directly address the needs of the community, Oasis Center is a safe space for people of diverse backgrounds to find community and inclusion despite their social isolation and economic challenges.

History

Mark and Ellen Cannon founded Oasis Center to create a space where people of diverse backgrounds could learn from each other, build relationships, and together work towards a more integrated community in Lavapies, Madrid. 

 

In 2010, Mark, a professor of Christian theology and intercultural studies, met with local Muslim and Christian leaders to find the most pressing needs of the immigrant community. These leaders shared that the most urgent needs included integration into Spanish society, language learning, and school success for children. 

 

In response, Mark and Ellen opened a community center in Lavapies that would help both immigrants and refugees integrate into Spanish society, through providing language classes, after school help for children, and a comfortable space for building friendships. Since then, the Oasis family has grown, seeing hundreds of volunteers and students participating and learning from each other.

MEET OUR DIRECTOR

Joel Skrie joined the Oasis Center team in 2016, and due to his commitment and hard work was named director just one year later.  Since then, his skills as an “integrador social” and his multicultural background have empowered Oasis to grow not only in the day to day programming, but also in its vision towards the future.

 

OASIS CENTER MADRID

Address : Calle del Sombrerete, 26

28012 Madrid

Telephone: 644 61 64 36