Graduates at the programme’s closing ceremony.
After the success of the first one, this week has graduated a new class of VET (Vocational Educational Training) aimed specifically at people with intellectual disabilities, promoted in Catalonia by AMPANS, through the Training and Learning contracts of the Ministerio de Trabajo, through the SOC. In this edition, of one year’s duration, 10 young people attended by the Orientation and Training Service of AMPANS were selected to participate in the course where they have combined theoretical training and employment. In total, they have completed 690 hours of training and 1,750 hours of work experience. This VET course has been carried out in the Industry Services section of the AMPANS foundation, where they have been trained in auxiliary warehouse activities, and have worked in various areas in social and personal skills for autonomy and employment. At the same time, there are another group of VET students, in a 2-year course, and a new one that has already started, of 12 people.
VET is a training contract that aims to make paid work activity compatible with the corresponding training processes. It is aimed at young people, with disabilities or in vulnerable situations, who do not have the professional qualifications required for the job. VET recovers the figure of the apprentice, favouring the gradual attainment of work habits and putting into practice the knowledge being acquired in the classroom, at the same job. The 10 participants who started the training 1 year ago, successfully passing the programme, have been able to consolidate the learning from the combination of theory and practice from an active pedagogy. This methodology has favoured the internalisation of the contents and individual growth according to the needs detected by each person.
AMPANS opted for this training approach in 2019, as a pioneering initiative in the field of intellectual disability, and now evaluates the results very positively. “Training and apprenticeship contracts are a good formula that adapts very well to people with special difficulties in accessing the labour market, while it is also an opportunity to incorporate already trained staff into the entity’s employment projects“, highlights Imma Pallarès, head of the AMPANS Training and Guidance Service.
“It’s been a big change in my life… and I’ve made new friends and learnt new things” says Paula Martínez, a participant in the programme. Like Paula, many of the young people who have graduated had not had any stable job opportunities before joining the training programme. After successfully completing this year of training and work, the good results motivated the non-profit organisation to continue its commitment to VET in the training of young people with functional diversity.
The graduation ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, highlighted the personal challenge that each one of them has faced, the lessons they have learned and how they face the future after having lived this experience. During the graduation ceremony, Eulàlia Grané, VET guidance technician, congratulated the young people and encouraged them to continue their training.
