CONVIVE Fundación Cepaim inaugura un nuevo centro en Fuerteventura

During the event, a sensitization campaign was presented to combat ageism in the workplace in the Canary Islands

The event began with the welcome and opening remarks by the Deputy Director of CONVIVE Fundación Cepaim, Javier Pérez; the Mayor of Puerto del Rosario, David de Vera, and the insular councilor of Social Action, Víctor Alonso.

The Deputy Director of CONVIVE Fundación Cepaim, Javier Pérez, celebrated the opening of the center, «which fulfills a triple objective: on one hand, to help people at risk of social exclusion find dignified employment. On the other hand, to work hand in hand with companies, as well as to achieve intercultural coexistence in Fuerteventura.»

The Mayor of Puerto del Rosario, David de Vera, praised the foundation’s efforts «to offer new opportunities within the municipality for the integration and promotion of employment for vulnerable individuals.» Similarly, the Social Action councilor of the Cabildo, Víctor Alonso, expressed gratitude for «a resource that complements those already available in Fuerteventura,» highlighting «projects specifically targeted at individuals over 45 years of age.»

During the roundtable discussion «Challenges and Opportunities for the Development of Social Projects in the Canary Islands», the Operation Forward Canary Islands was presented. Opening doors for equality and inclusion, this initiative is funded by the European Social Fund Plus with co-financing from the Government of the Canary Islands and the «la Caixa» Foundation. This program offers personalized sociolaboral integration itineraries for vulnerable individuals, with a special focus on women over 45 years old.

Furthermore, within the framework of the ageism in the workplace in the Canary Islands analysis panel, the social and labor challenges in the islands were addressed, highlighting that 61% of unemployed individuals over 45 years old in Spain have been searching for work for over a year. In the Canary Islands, the unemployment rate for this group reaches 16.4%, well above the national average. During the panel discussion, the term «pre-retired» was also criticized as a way to invisibilize the structural labor exclusion experienced by these individuals.

Participant Gloria V.M., from the Operation Forward Canary Islands project, shared her experience as a job seeker nearing fifty years old, having worked in customer service throughout her life. «I had to adapt and search for employment online, in an environment where I discriminated against myself due to my age, as well as by the companies,» she said.

«I had to accept unstable employment conditions imposed by the companies, out of fear of not achieving stability,» Gloria added. «If I had to search for a new job today, I believe it would be nearly impossible. Among my friends, younger women have more opportunities and an easier time finding employment.»

Campaign «Individuals over 45 years old bring value and experience. Let’s fight against ageism in the workplace»

The event hosted the launch of the campaign against ageism in the workplace, an initiative to raise awareness and shed light on the barriers faced by individuals over 45 years old in selection and hiring processes, especially women. Under the motto «Individuals over 45 years old bring value and experience. Let’s fight against ageism in the workplace,» the social entity announced several initiatives to combat age discrimination in the workplace and raise awareness among the business sector and social entities about the challenges faced by these individuals.

To achieve this goal, the first video of the initiative was presented, as part of a digital campaign, and the launch of a survey on this topic aimed at 60 Canarian companies was announced.

The event concluded with a speech by the autonomous director of CONVIVE Fundación Cepaim in the Canary Islands, Mané Atabbe Dieme, who emphasized «the importance of implementing a community strategy to combat age discrimination and harness senior talent in the social and economic reconstruction of the archipelago.»