From a Book to Five Homes: Javier Cascón Shares the Story of Amen sin tilde with Schiller Madrid Students

Why keep waiting to do something good and selfless for others?

That question was at the center of a recent session at Schiller International University’s Madrid Campus with Javier Cascón, author of Amen sin tilde and founder of a housing initiative that provides people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion with a safe and supportive environment in which to rebuild their lives.

The visit took place in Professor José Pinto’s Public Speaking class as part of School for Dreamers, a series of talks that brings successful and purpose-driven individuals into the classroom to explain how they transformed a dream, idea or personal conviction into reality.

During the session, Javier Cascón spoke openly about the origins of his project, the challenges and positive experiences he has encountered, and the lessons he has learned since beginning the initiative in 2022. What started with one home has since grown to five houses, and 42 people have participated in the program.

Key Takeaways

• Turning an Idea into Action: Javier Cascón shared how a personal commitment to helping others developed into a growing housing initiative.
• Creating Homes, Not Only Providing Shelter: The project seeks to offer a safe and supportive environment in which people can regain stability, prosper and grow.
• Five Homes Since 2022: The initiative currently operates five houses, with 42 people having participated in the program.
• Learning from the Entire Process: Students heard about both the positive and difficult experiences involved in turning a social mission into a sustainable project.
• Encouraging Students to Begin: The session invited students to consider why they should wait to take action when they already have the capacity to do something meaningful for others.

Turning Questions into Concrete Action

The story behind Amen sin tilde is rooted in Javier Cascón’s desire to move beyond temporary assistance and develop a longer-term response to homelessness and social exclusion.

Having volunteered with people experiencing homelessness from a young age, he began to question whether occasional support was enough. He wanted to help create something more permanent: not simply a roof, but a home where people could feel safe, listened to and valued.

That conviction led to the creation of Amen sin tilde, a book designed not only to raise funds for the housing project, but also to pose questions, encourage reflection and move readers towards action. Its stated purposes include supporting the purchase of housing, questioning the routines that prevent people from acting, expressing gratitude and transparently documenting the project’s development.

During his visit to Schiller Madrid, however, Javier Cascón did not present the project as a simple success story. He spoke freely about the full process, including good and bad experiences, practical challenges and everything he has learned while trying to turn an ambitious social idea into a working initiative.

Providing a Safe Environment for People to Move Forward

Since it began in 2022, the project has expanded to five houses, while 42 people have passed through the program.

The objective extends beyond offering temporary accommodation. The houses are intended to provide a safe environment in which people facing difficult circumstances can find stability, feel part of a community and create the conditions needed to prosper and grow.

This distinction forms an important part of Javier Cascón’s approach. Public descriptions of the initiative emphasize the difference between merely providing a roof and creating a genuine home where people can feel secure and supported.

By sharing the development of the project openly, Javier Cascón gave students insight into the commitment required to sustain a socially focused initiative. Meaningful change can involve uncertainty, setbacks and difficult decisions, but those challenges can also become important sources of learning.

An Open Conversation with Students

Rather than delivering a one-way presentation, Javier Cascón spoke candidly about his experience and invited students to ask questions throughout the session.

This open format gave students the opportunity to explore not only what he had achieved, but how he had approached the process. The conversation covered the positive and difficult moments behind the project, the lessons he had learned and the realities of moving from an intention to help into concrete, sustained action.

At the heart of the discussion was a challenge to students: Why continue waiting to do something good and selfless for others?

The question reflects one of the central ideas behind Amen sin tilde. The book is intended to encourage readers to question themselves rather than remain passive, showing how personal reflection can become the starting point for action.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Dreamers

The visit reflected the purpose of Professor José Pinto’s School for Dreamers series: introducing students to people who have transformed an idea, dream or conviction into something real.

Javier Cascón’s story offered a particularly powerful example because his dream was not centered solely on personal achievement. It was built around creating opportunities for others and developing an environment where people in vulnerable circumstances could begin moving forward.

For students, the session demonstrated that turning a dream into reality does not necessarily begin with having every answer. It can begin by identifying a need, asking an uncomfortable question and deciding to take the first step.