The major challenge and structural issue facing Spain—where the majority of our work in Europe takes place—is youth unemployment.
Spain has consistently topped the list of countries with the highest youth unemployment rates in Europe, far exceeding the EU average. The long-term impact of youth unemployment has multiple economic implications (loss of productivity, brain drain of both national and foreign talent) as well as social consequences that erode cohesion and social stability. These persistently high rates make it difficult for young people to become independent, delaying the age at which they leave the parental home. Moreover, this situation increases young people’s economic and social dependence on their families, triggering emotional strain and contributing to declining birth and fertility rates, which in turn leads to negative long-term socio-economic effects such as population ageing-
Through our projects in Europe, we intervene in educational settings and support young people—mostly from vulnerable backgrounds—on their educational, social, and professional development journeys, improving their employability through career guidance and socio-emotional support.
We work with young people enrolled in the Youth Guarantee scheme, Vocational Training, and Primary and Secondary Education, always in close coordination with the actions and initiatives already carried out by their educational institutions. In this way, we help students identify their vocations, learn about a wider range of opportunities and resources to find employment or continue their studies, while providing information that facilitates decision-making and the development of social skills.
Our youth employability projects combine three key components:
• Vocational and career guidance, accompanying students as they explore their vocational interests while improving their knowledge of the labour market and educational pathways.
• Soft skills development with a socio-emotional focus, helping young people enhance their emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and their ability to understand and regulate their emotions.
• Connection with their environment, enabling students to discover and access available local resources, including businesses, public institutions, and professionals from their areas of vocational interest.