Problem addressed

The starting point was alarming: 63% of Roma youth were neither studying nor working, and 86% were living in poverty conditions. Access to employment became an urgent matter.

Innovative solution

The project’s innovative nature lies in:
-An experiential learning methodology, with six-month theoretical-practical pathways in real companies.
-A strategic alliance with more than 60 companies in key sectors, which not only collaborate but also co-designed and delivered part of the training.
-The use of social support as an equity mechanism, preventing family poverty from becoming a barrier to participation.
-A rigorous selection system that prioritises potential and competencies over traditional employability criteria.
-Integration with professional teams from the Acceder program, specialised in intercultural mediation and individualized social mentoring.

Key results and benefits

Between 2013 and 2023, thanks to the efforts of 170 professionals from our organisation, more than 3,500 young people—90% of whom were Roma and nearly 70% without formal education and facing major structural barriers (poverty, segregation, discrimination)—joined this innovative training model. This model focused on competency development in real work settings, with intensive professional support and public-private partnerships in 41 cities.

Potential for mainstreaming

"Learning by doing" has not only generated employment opportunities—it has helped dismantle stigmas, and contributed to fight against discrimination.