The Cabildo of Tenerife, via the Employment department, has allocated a direct grant exceeding 254 thousand euros to the municipality of Fasnia, aimed at benefitting 26 individuals for twelve months. This funding is intended to promote and develop local employment across various municipalities. In this regard, the Minister of Employment, Education and Youth, Efraín Medina, emphasises that this initiative is not merely another employment programme; rather, it represents “a holistic commitment to the future for unemployed individuals who will engage in projects related to local sustainable development,” where they will receive training and gain work experience to enhance their future employment prospects. Furthermore, participants will obtain personalised career guidance and efforts will be made to explore opportunities to ease their integration into the island’s labour market once the projects are finalised.
The programmes prioritise the inclusion of young people under 30 and those who have been unemployed for an extended period, with women required to constitute at least 50% of the hires. Participants will receive training and will be given the opportunity to secure a work contract within their municipalities to contribute to projects of local and social significance.
Efraín Medina commended the efforts made by the Employment Department to expedite the approval of subsidies and remarked that “Tenerife has emerged as the employment powerhouse of the Canary Islands, and these accomplishments indicate that we are heading in the right direction. Nevertheless, we must not become complacent; we will continue to invest in policies that enhance employability which will further contribute to the recovery and economic growth of our Island.” The councillor also mentioned that the aforementioned subsidies aim to support projects that facilitate the provision of works or services of general and social interest to foster the community development of the Island’s municipalities. These grants cover both training and salary costs for the individuals recruited to implement the projects.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Fasnia, Luis González, highlighted that “we are embarking on a highly anticipated plan in Fasnia that is tailored to the needs of the local population, aimed at enhancing job opportunities, environmental sustainability, and training as key pillars in the fight against unemployment in the municipality. This initiative represents a vital implementation, enriching the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies of those selected to work in the coming months. This is a commitment to employment policies aimed at reducing unemployment and assisting numerous families to improve their financial situations, making it easier for them to enter the job market.”
Sustainable Development
A crucial aspect of these projects is the opportunity they provide for municipalities to execute local initiatives that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), enabling them to draw on both skilled and unskilled personnel to bolster the capacity for development and execution of new ventures. According to the documentation submitted by the council, the project, titled Sustainable Fasnia II and set to last for 16 months, aims to achieve several objectives including the conservation of the environment and biodiversity to diversify the productive structure; conducting maintenance in rural and urban public areas; promoting sustainable construction, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources; fostering economic growth through local agriculture, responsible water usage, and green entrepreneurship; as well as enhancing the promotion and revitalisation of tourism.
