Santa Cruz found a practical way to pull residents out of long-term unemployment

It’s a win-win situation for the urban green spaces and for the labour market

On 21 December, the mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) made a public presentation of an agreement signed between his administration and the Canary Islands Employment Service, by virtue of which hundred long-term unemployed people will get a much-needed boost to their CVs. They will work on cleaning and gardening the small green spaces of the city whose neglect has received numerous complaints from the residents.

In addition, these hundred persons will get specific training at the municipal centre for job training, which will improve their employability prospects.

Tackling social exclusion

Long-term unemployment can turn into a vicious circle that the longer it goes the more it increases the chances of people feeling trapped into the realm of social exclusion. The project of the employment agreement is configured as a set of actions that seek, on the one hand, the labour insertion of the beneficiaries of the project by offering them an opportunity to acquire work experience and improve their training. And, on the other hand, it will guarantee the execution of actions of general interest for the municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife from which all citizens will benefit.

The mayor of the city, José Manuel Bermúdez, emphasized to the future municipal trainees that their work is not by any means superficial or trivial.

He went on: “One of the most common residents’ complaints precisely has to do with a good part of your work from now on that each and every one of you will develop in the coming months, and that the residents in the different districts will thank you for. These are small actions that improve people's lives.”

After six months in the programme, the trainees will receive a certificate of competencies and approved qualifications, which will be a stepping stone to furthering their careers.