After Nuno Pinto Santos graduated, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to find work. Now, thanks to the PEPAL Internship project, he’s gained professional experience… and a new career.

Today, joining the workforce – even after a successful academic education – can be difficult.  

That’s why the PEPAL Internship project offers year-long internships at several local authorities in Portugal, supporting young people to train and work in a professional local administration role.

Nuno Pinto Santos applied for an internship with the PEPAL scheme after graduating in architecture. He was one of eight people accepted into an internship in the Town Hall of Sintra, Greater Lisbon, to train in architecture and civil engineering.

Nuno admits that he wasn't really sure of his career path before starting his internship. "When I applied, I still didn’t have a very clear idea of what I wanted in professional terms, in the medium and long term," he explains, "nor much expectation about my first job."