Spain rolls out community projects to fight isolation and boost green jobs

The Fundación Colisée has completed its intergenerational garden workshops in the Rincón de Ademuz area of Valencia, a program aimed at preventing unwanted loneliness among older residents by pairing them with young people to share farming techniques and traditional recipes. The initiative, part of the Red de Acción Rural, was carried out in the municipalities of Ademuz, Torrebaja and Casas Bajas and was supported by local authorities and the regional social services department.

In Asturias, the social‑enterprise Riquirraque Emaús closed its first RAEECircular workshop in Piedras Blancas, Castrillón. Funded by the Fundación EDP, the pilot trained vulnerable participants in the collection, dismantling and refurbishment of electronic waste, leading to two six‑month employment contracts on a new e‑waste recovery line. The programme aims to expand into an officially certified qualification and create further green‑job opportunities.

Both projects illustrate local efforts in Spain to combine social inclusion with sustainable development, targeting isolated seniors in rural Valencia and unemployed individuals in Asturias through hands‑on training and community engagement.