- The opening ceremony for the seventh edition of this programme took place today at Endesa's headquarters and was attended by the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida.
- The Endesa Foundation launched Changing Lives in 2016. Since then, this initiative has benefited more than 2,700 people at risk of social exclusion in Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, Zaragoza and Palma de Mallorca.
- The aim of the programme is to train and support at least 335 vulnerable people this year to help them join the labour market.
The Endesa Foundation has launched a new edition of the Changing Lives programme at an event that took place this morning at Endesa's headquarters in Madrid. It was attended by the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Chairman of Endesa and the Endesa Foundation, Juan Sánchez-Calero, the Chief Executive Officer of Endesa and Vice-Chairman of the Endesa Foundation, José Bogas, and the Executive Chairman of the Integra Foundation, Ana Botella, who were accompanied by volunteers and beneficiaries of this project.
The Endesa Foundation, in its commitment to promoting actions to improve the employability and insertion in the labour market for people at risk of social exclusion, in 2016 launched the Changing Lives programme, in collaboration with the Integra Foundation, which involves support and preparation for this group to enable them to be incorporated into the labour market. This initiative also enjoys the support of Endesa volunteer employees, who receive prior training to help beneficiaries acquire basic skills that will enable them to be successful in job interviews, get a job and, ultimately change their lives.
Changing Lives is active not only in Madrid but also in Barcelona, Seville, Zaragoza and Palma de Mallorca. Since the first edition, the programme has benefited a total of 2,717 people. The participants in the project are members of a number of NGOs, public and private social institutions, and Social Services in different municipalities.
For Néstor, one of Endesa's volunteers in this programme, "volunteering is an enormously human and enriching experience in all its phases. All the people involved have a history of courage and struggle. When you see that you can give them the encouragement they need and help them get where they want to be, it is very rewarding. Volunteering is an experience that always makes profound changes in you."
Latifa is a 31-year-old Moroccan who arrived in Spain by boat in 2018 and thanks to this initiative he has found a job that has changed his life: "I saw the light when it seemed that the end of the world had come. In Changing Lives they lent me a hand when I most needed it. And with everything I went through to get here, I am proud of what I have accomplished for myself."
And Valentin, aged 57, "I had a good life, with a house, a job, a family ... With the crisis of 2008, my world apart." He told us that thanks to the programme he was lucky enough to meet incredible, selfless people who were willing to help others. "During the project I was trained to understand what job interviews consisted of. I was totally isolated from a social point of view and finding a job has changed my life completely. Now I look forward to the future and I can live with dignity and tranquillity."
This year, Changing Lives is expected to benefit at least 335 people; it will also assist beneficiaries of previous editions who may need help.
The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, highlighted the importance of the work done by the Endesa Foundation and the Integra Foundation, emphasising the value of people as authentic engines of generosity, and those who create these initiatives continue to be a source of pride to build a better future and especially for those who are suffering the worst.
The Chairman of Endesa and the Endesa Foundation, Juan Sánchez-Calero, recalled that this project started out in 2016 "as a dream, a small pilot scheme in Cornellá de Llobregat which involved training 57 people". Just when we are celebrating 25 years since the birth of the Endesa Foundation, he also pointed out that these initiatives represent "the pride of our work: Contributing to social development by opening innovative paths to improve the lives of people, communities and their environments."
The Chief Executive Officer of Endesa and Vice-Chairman of its Foundation, José Bogas, reminded us that "in these seven years we have managed to formalise 2,850 employment contracts, always with the aim of providing them with the precious asset of autonomy, something that can only be achieved when a person has a decent job. We have the ability, we can and must contribute to the construction of a fairer, more inclusive society."
The Executive Chairman of Fundación Integra, Ana Botella, thanked Endesa and its Foundation for their commitment and pointed out that the best way to transform society is through employment. For Ana Botella, "the most important social measure is employment. Changing Lives is an initiative that generates a positive and long-term impact on the lives of beneficiaries and their families thanks to inclusion in the labour market."
About the Endesa Foundation
The Endesa Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. A quarter of a century of social work that enables us to look to the future with the challenge of continuing to progress, with a broad and conscious outlook on human beings and the rest of the species that surround us to build a world in which there is room for everyone.
With this in mind, the Endesa Foundation contributes to social development and the conservation of biodiversity through education, training for employment, culture, volunteering and urban biodiversity projects so that there is a future in which we can all live together and in balance with each other.
About the Integra Foundation
The Integra Foundation works to achieve the integration of people in social exclusion and with disabilities into the labour market. These include women who are victims of gender violence, people with disabilities, young people on probation, homeless people, prisoners and ex-prisoners, long-term unemployed, or ethnic minorities. It also acts as a link between institutions, NGOs and companies willing to offer an opportunity to these people. Since 2001, the Foundation has secured more than 20,000 jobs.