About
History[edit]
Girona Buddies began in February 2024 as a small WhatsApp group. The first meetup was a few people meeting up for a picnic in the park. From that first meetup, it has grown into an inclusive community with over 1,300 members (as of late 2025) and around 50 subgroups, from hiking and music to language exchanges, coffee meetups, and dinners.
Who Girona Buddies Is For[edit]
Girona Buddies is for everyone. Whether you are a newcomer, a long-term resident, a local, an Erasmus student, a refugee, or if you're in Girona for work, or for love, or you're from Barcelona or Banyoles, or you just stepped off a plane from South America, or si ets una persona de Girona de tota la vida, you're welcome in Girona Buddies.
How to Join[edit]
To join the WhatsApp community go to gironabuddies.com/join. Please note the link only works if you're in Spain. The community has a limit of 2,000 people so we have to be selective about who can join.
You can find our upcoming events at *Meetup.com or by joining the Upcoming events noticeboard subgroup.
Community Values / Principles[edit]
- Friendliness
- Inclusivity
- Respect for diversity
- Volunteering spirit
- Sustainability (if relevant, since you’re linking activism too)
Impact / Achievements[edit]
- Mention activities beyond socializing: volunteering clean-ups, language support, cultural exchanges.
- Adds weight: you’re not just a chat group, you’re *doing things*.
Meet the Admins / Volunteers[edit]
- Short, friendly intros for the core admins (first names only, maybe photos if comfortable).
- Helps put faces to the group and shows it’s community-led.
FAQ Section[edit]
Examples:
- *Is Girona Buddies only for expats?* (Answer: No, it’s for everyone living here)
- *Does it cost anything?* (Answer: No, it’s free, volunteer-run)
- *Can I promote my business?* (Answer: No, not in general chat — only in appropriate subgroups)
Code of Conduct / Rules[edit]
You already list some in the summary, but you could expand them slightly here with positive framing (“be respectful, listen, include others”).
Contact / Collaborations[edit]
- Email or contact form for people who want to propose collaborations (civic centres, NGOs, volunteering projects).
- Shows openness to the wider Girona community.
Would you like me to ==mock up a more complete version== of the page with these extra sections included, so you can see how it would look?
