Iberdrola España, UNICEF Spain and Fundación Secretariado Gitano present a training and employment programme in renewable energies for vulnerable youth

• The programme is co-financed by the European Union through the Next Generation Funds and Iberdrola España. It aims to promote opportunities offered by green economy and connect it with highly vulnerable youth in our regions – promoting social and labour inclusion.

• It is part of the Generation Unlimited España Alliance, promoted by UNICEF España, of which Iberdrola España and Secretariado Gitano are members. The programme aims to bridge youth and opportunities for training, work and social impact, bringing together public, private, academic and civil society sectors.

This morning in the capital of León, UNICEF España, Iberdrola España and Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) presented their collaboration in the TándEM Programme for training and employment in renewable energies. This initiative is  implemented by Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) within the framework of Generation Unlimited España – a multi-stakeholder alliance that seeks social and labour inclusion of vulnerable youth.

The TándEM programme is dedicated to youth who need access to education and work experience. It is supported by the City Council of León and by business federation Federación Leonesa de Empresarios (FELE). This initiative is being developed throughout the year in León; part of the training is held in the classroom and the other part is carried out in different municipal buildings in León, where the assembly and maintenance of photovoltaic installations are executed.

The programme is funded by the State Public Employment Service (SEPE) and framed within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (Next Generation EU). It responds to a double challenge: to train unqualified youth and to provide them with opportunities to gain experience in relevant sectors, such as green jobs – favouring the development of their life projects. 

This morning's meeting was attended by the Mayor of León City Council, José Antonio Diez; the President of the UNICEF Castilla y León Committee, María Eugenia García Rincón; the Deputy Director of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano, Isidro Rodríguez; the Delegate of Iberdrola España in Castilla y León, Miguel Calvo; the Deputy Provincial Director of the SEPE in León, Mª Trinidad Alonso; and the Head of the Generation Unlimited España Alliance, Marta Contreras, who highlighted the value of the training and support activities for the students.

The programme is part of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) Alliance, promoted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 and driven by UNICEF, which aims to bridge youth and training and employment opportunities.

Scope of the Generation Unlimited España Alliance

In Spain, Generation Unlimited is promoted by UNICEF España and arises as a response to the scenario of youth vulnerability in the country, to promote social and labour inclusion. The alliance is articulated from a multi-stakeholder perspective that involves private and public sectors, social entities, academia and the participation of youth – the protagonists in leading their future. 

Innovative training methodologies are used, as well as mentoring of youth and work experience in companies, generating and promoting a socio-labour inclusion model, focused on digitalisation and green employment. This initiative aims to influence public and corporate policies to replicate, scale and foster inclusive and quality employment.

Iberdrola España plays an active role in designing innovative training models, involving its value chain to promote youth training and green economy employment opportunities. These models are implemented in direct collaboration between Iberdrola España and social entities such as Fundación Secretariado Gitano, Fundación Santa María la Real, NGO Cesal, Federación de Plataformas Sociales Pinardi, Fundación San Juan del Castillo-Pueblos Unidos, Fundación Tomillo, Asociación Norte Joven, Fundación Exit and Nantik Lum, promoting green economy opportunities and climate action.

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