Social welfare from the experience of Carlos Hidalgo: a question of justice, equity and opportunities.

The social welfare is not just a concept out of a textbook or a political theory that sounds good in debates. Not at all! This is Carlos Hidalgo, a guy who has been through almost every face of this term and today he's going to tell you what it means in real life.

If you think that social welfare is all about government, free services and TV campaigns ... you're right, but you're also missing a lot to understand.

For starters, social welfare is bigger than the sum of all those parts. It is a network of rights and services that ensure that you, me, and the neighbor have access to the minimum we need to have a decent life: education, health, employment, housing.... and everything that makes us, at the end of the day, feel that we live, and not just survive.

Why is social welfare important?

Here goes my story. I was born into a family where money was tight and the state had to intervene in many ways. Sometimes we didn't know how we were going to pay the rent or if we would have quality medical care when someone got sick. And this is where social welfare comes into play.

I'm telling you, when you have the backing of a system that ensures free education, universal health care and labor policies that protect workers, you not only feel more secure, but you can also look to the future with a little more optimism. But wait, there's more.

Social welfare in practice: what the government should do (and what you can demand)

There are those who think that social welfare only means giving subsidies or benefits to the poorest people, but let me tell you something: social welfare is for everyone. It doesn't matter if you are poor, middle class or millionaire. What changes is the type of needs that the State must cover.

Free and quality public health, access to dignified housing, fair employment.... Sounds good, doesn't it? But this only works if there is a serious commitment by the government to keep these policies afloat. It's not just about launching programs, but making sure they are sustainable over time. And, of course, this needs money in the public coffers as well, so good economic management is key.

How does social welfare look like in different areas of your life?

Ah, this is a topic I am passionate about. I have lived, worked and gone through times where I felt firsthand what it means to have or not have access to certain services. Let me tell you how social welfare manifests itself in various facets of our lives:

2. Education: One of the greatest gifts of social welfare. I was able to finish high school thanks to scholarships and support programs. Without that help, I might have had to drop out of school to go to work at an early age.
4. Health: There is no more reassuring feeling than knowing that if you or someone you love gets sick, they are going to get care without having to empty your pockets. It happened to me when I had to have appendix surgery at age 22. I was admitted to a public hospital where, in addition to saving my life, they didn't charge me a penny.That's how social welfare works.
6. Employment: Having labor rights protected by law is something we take for granted. I worked in a company where they didn't respect overtime or vacations, until one day, the union stood up and thanks to fair employment policies, we got what we deserved.
8. Housing: You know that saying "your home, your castle"? Well, in my case, my castle was about to crumble more than once, until we were able to access social housing. Without that help, it would have been impossible to get a decent place for my family and me.

The role of the state in all this: your welfare is its responsibility

Here comes the key part: the state has a responsibility to all of us, and not just to those who need it most. It must guarantee that every citizen has access to basic services regardless of their social class. And if you wonder if that is fair or not, let me tell you that it is fair and necessary. Because when a society does not take care of its most vulnerable members, malaise spreads like a plague. You feel it in the economy, in education, in security, in everything!

It's not charity, it's social justice.

What happens when social welfare fails?

I'll be honest with you. It's not all rosy. Welfare can fail, and I've seen it more times than I'd like. When governments don't take their role seriously, when resources are mismanaged or when the system is so corrupt that public services deteriorate, people suffer. And I'm not just talking about the poorest, but everyone.

Have you ever been in a public hospital where you have to wait for hours because there are not enough doctors? Or in a school where the materials are outdated and teachers juggle to teach 40 students? I have, and it's hopeless.

The future of social welfare: where are we going?

Social welfare is not static. With every government, every change in the economy and every global crisis, this system is challenged and transformed. What can we as citizens do? Demand! Demand that the policies that work be maintained and those that don't be improved. Because, at the end of the day, social welfare is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

Final Reflection: Social Welfare, a bet for all

So now you know, friend. Social welfare is not just something to be left to politicians or economists. It is an issue that affects us all, and we must be committed to its evolution. I, Carlos Hidalgo, have experienced it firsthand and I know what it means to have or not to have this support.