2019_12_16_TAN_inclusion

COCEMFE Navarra, Federation of associations of people with physical and organic disabilities, and the University of Navarra have awarded diplomas to several people with disabilities at risk of exclusion who have lived for several months "a unique professional experience" within campus in positions such as administration or cleaning.

"If it is difficult for these people to find a work , doing it here is almost a dream, a huge injection of self-esteem to see how a university trusts them for responsible work," explains Ikerne Arizkuren, coordinator of employment of Avanza Navarra, service of employment of COCEMFE Navarra.

The event took place at Central Building with the presence of Manuel Arellano, president of COCEMFE Navarra; Tomás Gómez-Acebo, Vice President de Alumnos and Sofía Collantes, coordinator of Tantaka, who described the experience as "very enriching" both for the institution and for the participants themselves. "People with disabilities improve their job skills and open the door to a higher quality employment ", explained Arellano, who pointed out that "almost half of the participants find work immediately afterwards". For her part, Sofía Collantes assured that "this is an opportunity to break down prejudices and make student body, the professionals of tomorrow, aware of the capabilities of people with disabilities".

Since the beginning of this experience, which is being repeated for the sixth consecutive year, 43 people have gone through the university and almost half of them have found work immediately afterwards, a "very positive" evaluation for COCEMFE taking into account the status labor and staff of the participants, who add to disability factors such as advanced age, long-term unemployment, low training or lack of income.

This initiative is part of 'Disability and social and labor inclusion', a program of COCEMFE Navarra funded by the department of Social Rights that has served this year 25 people with disabilities, 147 since 2010, with the goal of "promoting their social participation as protagonists of their lives and address situations of vulnerability and exclusion."