There are plenty of fulfilling and well-paying job vacancies in the medico-social sector, but it is difficult for employers to find enough workers, especially young people, with the right qualifications to fill them. Supported by the European Social Fund (ESF), the ‘URASS-IFMES 2020’ project in Martinique helped young people gain the certifications needed to access internships and work in this field. 

Located in Martinique - one of the overseas regions of France - ‘URASS-IFMES 2020’ has enabled real recruitment strategies, allowing a match between working conditions and labour-market expectations. The project provided young people opportunities to qualify for specific positions  in the medical and social sectors, such as social worker and early childhood educator. Courses included an internship programme, enabling graduates to put theory into practice and gain experience.  

Maéva Jean-Baptiste enrolled on a course through the project and gained a diploma as a result: 'Fresh off my different experiences in the social field, I wished to continue my training in order to obtain the diploma of Social Service Assistant.’

The training not only developed the key skills she would need to enter the job market, but also equipped her with the interpersonal and soft skills that would prepare her for employment.

‘This training allowed me to develop my skills… whether it was at the level of the professional sphere, or at the level of my personal life, by pushing me to my limits,’ she reflects.

Over 300 people enrolled on the training courses with 80 % of them receiving diplomas, which bolstered their chances of finding a job.