Tenerife Cabildo Invests €2M to Help 630 Vulnerable Find Jobs

The Cabildo de Tenerife is investing two million euros to help 630 vulnerable island residents find jobs. More than half (56.5%) of these residents are women. This money will go to twelve non-profit organizations that use volunteers for their community work. The funding will support job programs in growing sectors like sustainability, energy efficiency, and various "economies": the blue economy (focused on using ocean and coastal resources sustainably while protecting the environment), the green economy (aimed at reducing environmental impact by using natural resources wisely), and the orange economy (which combines culture and creativity).

This week, Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, and Efraín Medina, the Minister for Employment, Education, and Youth, met with representatives from the organizations running these programs. The programs will provide over 4,700 hours of training, with 80% classroom learning and 20% practical experience.

These programs will train people for jobs in blue and green economy areas, such as sustainable farming, environmental protection, and the circular economy. They also cover energy efficiency in industries and construction, as well as services like health, new technologies, active tourism, and culture.

Out of the 630 participants, 85% are from groups that often struggle to find work. These include women who have experienced gender violence, people with disabilities, those who have been unemployed for a long time, migrants, people with no previous work experience, and individuals over 45. While 60% of participants have academic qualifications, 40% do not have formal training.

During the meeting, Rosa Dávila praised the organizations for their "high-quality projects." She stated that these projects "fit our current reality, are innovative, and truly help those who need it most." She also highlighted that helping people find decent jobs is a top priority for the Cabildo.

Dávila emphasized, "We must continue to work closely with businesses and community groups to create more opportunities on the Island." She noted that "Tenerife has seen over 16,000 new workers in the past year, and unemployment has dropped to 12.63%, which is two points lower than the average for the Canary Islands."

Efraín Medina added that "this funding, in partnership with non-profit organizations, helps train and hire people for jobs that need skilled workers." He mentioned fields like "electricity, public transport, urban waste management, welding, and organic farming."

Next year, the island's budget will dedicate 41 million euros to "create more job opportunities for the people of Tenerife." This includes strengthening scholarships through "the best policy in the entire State" and supporting educational programs like Cabildo Educa. The budget also boosts job initiatives for specific groups (such as Barrios por el Empleo, Programa Practica, Artesanos, Ponos...), supports youth associations and centers, funds educational programs to prevent diseases and addictions, and promotes healthy lifestyle innovations.

Rosa Dávila, the Cabildo president, pointed out that Tenerife "is responsible for nearly half of all new jobs created in the Canary Islands." She noted that in October alone, "the Island recorded 32,500 new contracts, showing that Tenerife continues to drive the Canarian economy." Dávila concluded that "these numbers demonstrate a combined effort from the Cabildo, private businesses, and workers, who are all strengthening our economy daily and creating a job market with more opportunities."