EmpoweerNEET has launched entrepreneurship training in Gavà and Terrassa, empowering young people and women to develop social enterprises through the Social and Solidarity Economy.
EmpoweerNEET Spain Training has officially started in the Catalan municipalities of Gavà and Terrassa. The programme supports young people and women in developing entrepreneurial skills through the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). Moreover, it helps participants strengthen their employability while transforming innovative ideas into sustainable social enterprises.
CATALONIA, Spain – July 2026 – The EmpoweerNEET project has officially launched its entrepreneurship training programme in Gavà and Terrassa, marking another important milestone in the project’s mission to empower young people and women through the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE).
The programme provides participants with practical knowledge, entrepreneurial competencies, and personalised support to transform innovative ideas into sustainable social enterprises. Moreover, it promotes inclusive economic development by encouraging business models that place people, sustainability, and social impact at the centre of economic activity.
The training programme is the result of a collaborative effort between L’Eixida, Laproductora, and Communia, three Catalan organisations with extensive expertise in entrepreneurship, social innovation, and the Social and Solidarity Economy.
Together, they guide participants throughout their entrepreneurial journey by combining practical learning, mentoring, and collaborative activities. Furthermore, the programme will expand to Mataró and Caldes de Montbui in September, allowing more participants to benefit from the initiative.
Throughout the training, participants explore every stage of developing a social enterprise. They learn how to identify opportunities, define value propositions, design sustainable business models, assess economic feasibility, and understand legal frameworks within the Social and Solidarity Economy.
In addition, participants strengthen essential transversal skills such as teamwork, communication, creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making. Interactive workshops, group activities, and peer learning encourage participants to transform ideas into practical initiatives while building strong professional networks.
The programme also helps participants improve their employability by supporting career planning, strengthening entrepreneurial mindsets, and preparing them to respond to today’s labour market challenges.
Several participants have already begun developing projects that respond to local community needs.
One participant, María Mariela Martínez, is designing a community-based support network for older people to help reduce loneliness and strengthen social inclusion.
“We are shaping the project, and I hope to make it a reality to build my professional future,” she explained during one of the training sessions held at Unió de Cooperants de Gavà.
Another participant, Julia Leonor González, originally from Peru, is exploring the possibility of launching a family business with her two daughters in the fields of technology, beauty, and wellbeing.
Reflecting on the programme, she highlighted the value of learning about the cooperative model:
“We have gained a deeper understanding of cooperatives, where social benefit is shared. As migrants, we see this as an opportunity to build on our potential.”
Both participants emphasised that the training provides valuable entrepreneurial skills, practical tools, and opportunities to connect with like-minded people committed to creating positive social impact.
The entrepreneurship programme demonstrates how the Social and Solidarity Economy can create sustainable employment opportunities while addressing local challenges.
By combining entrepreneurship, collaboration, and social innovation, EmpoweerNEET enables participants to develop projects that generate both economic value and positive community impact.
EmpoweerNEET brings together partners from Palestine, Spain, Greece, Lebanon, Tunisia, and France to support young people who are Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs). Through training, mentoring, practical learning, and international cooperation, the project strengthens employability, entrepreneurship, and the Social and Solidarity Economy across the Mediterranean region.
The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, which promotes cooperation for a smarter, greener, more inclusive, and better-governed Mediterranean region.
Last Update
27/07/2026
Next Med