Early childhood, youth and special education and training

Obra Social’s five early childhood centres were attended by 1,027 children aged from four months to six years in the 2007/08 school year. The Parents School stepped up its activities, centring on assistance to the families of immigrant pupils and children with special education needs. The aim in all cases was to further their social insertion and build closer ties between family and school.

Support to young people's education and training is channelled through the seven centres run by Obra Social Caja Madrid (curricular, occupational and supplementary training) with a total of 2,756 students enrolled. A priority objective for these Obra Social centres is to help students' transition to the world of work. They accordingly offer work experience placements in partnership with businesses, which in 2007 generated a post-training hiring rate of 84%.

The Ponce de León centre offers a standard education curriculum in combination with integration units and special needs classes for the deaf and hard of hearing, to help them build their skills, confidence and self-reliance. It also runs an Occupational Centre and a Special Employment Centre.

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Supplementary learning spaces

Besides these centres, Obra Social Caja Madrid runs an extensive network of Spaces for Language Learning and Spaces for Reading.

Its 11 language schools offer both English language training and Spanish for immigrants, with a total of 3,346 students attending courses in 2007.

The Obra Social library network is made up of 39 Spaces for Reading. Their more than 345,000 members can choose from among 537,320 publications, which now include materials adapted for disabled readers.

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Programmes for school-age children

Priority goes to activities that help young people develop skills and values so they contribute usefully to society, and that equip teachers with the right tools to favour their students’ social and labour-market integration.

Of the 39 projects implemented in the year, we can single out:

• Scholarships: The "Eurobecas" programme, now into its ninth edition, offered 200 grants for students and holders of occupational training diplomas to complete work experience placements in the UK and Ireland.
• Debating programmes: “Aulaforo” seeks to form young people in human and democratic values through a process of dialogue and reflection. To date 15,276 students in 368 centres have had the chance to express, exchange and defend their opinions in classroom debate. Likewise aimed at encouraging dialogue among young people, the "Mock European Parliament" combines training in values with the development of key skills like teamwork and public speaking, following the protocols of the European Parliament. A total of 14,496 students took part in the 2007 edition.
• Internet programmes: Aimed at awakening young people's interest in creative expression, literature and the principles inspiring the European Union and the Spanish Constitution.

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