The “Tendiendo Puentes” project, led by the Barça Foundation and Scotiabank in collaboration with the social organisations Fe y Alegría Uruguay and Entreculturas, aims to improve the employability of 235 young people aged 18 to 29 who are in vulnerable situations, particularly migrant women, in the cities of Montevideo and Canelones. The initiative responds to a context of high youth unemployment, low educational attainment and difficulties accessing the labour market.

Training and employment opportunities

The project combines technical training, the development of social skills, financial and digital education, employment guidance and support, and entrepreneurship assistance. It also incorporates a dual education model that combines training with paid work, particularly in the field of early childhood care, to facilitate access to the labour market and expand the professional opportunities available to young participants.

Through these initiatives, the project seeks to develop participants’ professional skills and provide them with the tools to access formal employment or establish their own entrepreneurial ventures. The expected outcomes include training 125 young people in employment skills, with women accounting for 55% of participants, and providing entrepreneurship training to 110 people, 75% of whom will be women. The aim is for 50% of all participants to secure formal employment or develop their own entrepreneurial project.

Migrant women and barriers to employment

The project places particular emphasis on migrant women, who often face greater obstacles to integration and access to formal employment. The challenges identified include low levels of educational attainment, unmet basic needs and difficulties in having academic qualifications obtained in other countries officially recognised. This process can be lengthy and costly, limiting their employment opportunities.

In this context, “Tendiendo Puentes” seeks to help reduce barriers to the labour market through training, guidance and skills development that promote the autonomy and professional opportunities of participants, particularly migrant women.

 

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Sport as an educational and social tool

In the field of early childhood care, participants also receive training in SportNet, the Barça Foundation’s socio-educational methodology based on non-competitive sport and physical activity. Those who go on to work in education will be able to apply this methodology in their professional activities to foster children’s confidence, self-esteem, social skills, emotional management and sense of belonging to a group.

In addition, SportNet is used with children to complement their education and encourage physical activity after the school day, promoting personal and social development through sport.

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