marbella
A new Time Bank has recently opened in Marbella, where members trade abilities, services, and knowledge
10.05.11 - 11:33 -
Time. Marta Fernández talks with new members. Josele-Lanza
“Today for you, tomorrow for me”, six words that sum up the spirit of an initiative that has cropped up in many Spanish cities, among them Malaga and a newly opened establishment in Marbella. Hugo Coche is one of the members of a peculiar bank where there isn’t any money or any vaults. Instead the bank offers an array of services based on the abilities of its members, and it pays with hours, not money. Each client offers their own abilities to the rest of the members and can earn the help of others who want to share what they know. This is how the Time Bank works, a system that caught the attention of Hugo, a Chilean who has spent the last 20 years in Spain, and prompted him join and offer to give English classes.
As of now, after being open for a few short months, this system of exchanging services, abilities, and knowledge, located in the Divina Pastora Civic Centre is being supported by the local Welfare Department and the organisation ‘Marbella Voluntaria’ and has attracted 13 members. The hours they give range from advice about investing in the stock market or teaching how to cut hair, to technology or language classes, or even plumbing. “Everyone offers whatever they want to give and gets back whatever they need”, explains Marta Fernández, who runs the Time Bank.
The system is simple. A database shows offers and requests and tells members how to agree on an exchange, which doesn’t necessarily have to be reciprocated by the same person. They can also form workshops if several people are requesting the same type of class or opportunity. “When you give for example three hours of a service in the bank your account is credited with three hours that you can spend on anything that interests you”, says Marta, adding that this part of the bank is an important tool, especially in times of crisis.
This opinion is shared by Laura Ruiz, another member who praises the bartering done by past generations. “There are some activities that you can’t access because of your schedule or because they’re expensive” , she remarks. Laura is available to give technology classes to those who want to plunge into the world of personal computers, and in return she uses the Time Bank to improve her knowledge of foreign languages such as English or French. “Sometimes it’s important to do things without hoping for something in return, to enjoy our collective knowledge because it makes you a better person”.
Equality and self-esteem
But the benefits of the Time Bank aren’t limited to learning how to cook or finding a reliable baby-sitter. Fernández emphasizes that it’s about creating an egalitarian system “where a housekeeper who teaches you how to prepare dinner and a lawyer who gives you legal advice” are equally valued because it increases self-esteem, integration, and personal relationships. The only obstacle is mistrust, an emotion that is early overcome at the regular meetings of the members, although the Bank is only just getting started.
Some interesting statistics emerge from examining the Bank’s first dozen members. The majority of them are between the ages of 30 and 40, half have jobs, 12% are retired, and the rest are unemployed. Many of the initial members of the Bank are foreign residents. “There are people who have a lot of things to offer and they don’t have to be huge. In a time of crisis every little thing is important and can help someone”, points out the leader of the Time Bank.
