Madrid | February 2, 2021
At the beginning of 2016, Envera Inclusion Point opened its doors for the first time in the Islazul shopping center (Madrid) as a pioneering project in Europe for the visibility, normalization and labor inclusion of people with disabilities in the heart of 20th century society: shopping centers. Today, on its fifth anniversary, Envera Punto de Inclusión has established itself as a benchmark in terms of social responsibility with the creation of a Solidarity Recycling Center and the maintenance of eleven direct jobs and more than thirty indirect jobs. In addition, it has recently been internationally recognized as one of the finalist initiatives in the Zero Project Awards to be presented on February 10 at the UN headquarters in Vienna.
Envera Punto de Inclusión has not stopped growing since its birth. Just one year after the investment fund Nuveen, owner of Islazul, supported Envera's social work by altruistically donating a store in the shopping center, Carmila - Carrefour also wanted to support this initiative with a new opening in Carrefour Ciudad de la Imagen (Pozuelo de Alarcón).
People who visit Envera Inclusion Point, many of them already regular customers, find in this solidarity space some of the activities carried out by people with intellectual disabilities in Envera's occupational centers and residences, but they also have the opportunity to acquire, through a symbolic price, new or in perfect condition objects that have been forgotten in airplanes and airports.
The journey of life
As Virginia Ródenas, Envera's Director of Communication and Institutional Relations, points out, this initiative represents "the journey of life, a journey in which we give a second chance to objects and suitcases lost at airports".
The Solidarity Recycling Center, integrated in Envera's Special Employment Center in Colmenar Viejo, is in charge of selecting the items that are sent to Envera Punto de Inclusión for their solidarity marketing and also of preparing material that Envera donates to other NGOs in a unique circular economy process. Fundación Talía Concertante, Universitarios para el Desarrollo de África (AUDE), Mundo Justo, Voluntarios por África or the "Vicente del Bosque" Soccer School in Senegal, are some of the organizations that receive support from Envera Punto de Inclusión.
In addition to all this, Envera also contributes to the revitalization of shopping centers through the organization of social events in collaboration with Islazul and Carmila - Carreofur, such as inclusive fashion days or special programs with the mobile unit of Radio Terrícola.
Few social projects address social responsibility in such a comprehensive way, being replicable and taking into account sustainability, recycling and compliance with eight of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the ever-present goal of social and labor inclusion of people with disabilities.
During this month, Envera Inclusion Point in Islazul celebrates its 5th Anniversary by giving a commemorative gift to the people who pass through this space.
Andrés Serna and @virginiarodenas talk about the five years of "Envera #PuntoDeInclusión" at @CCIslazul and @CarrefourES. A job creation project recognized by @ZeroProjectorg.
Thanks @MadridSF @ClaraOndaMadrid for telling @ondamadridrid https://t.co/3meZ54esLg
- Envera 💚 (@Grupo_Envera_) January 29, 2021
About Envera
Grupo Envera is a non-profit organization with transparency accredited by the Lealtad Foundation whose mission is the social and labor integration of people with intellectual disabilities. Each year it serves 2,500 people in its early care services, neurodevelopment for children and youth, training, job placement service, occupational and day centers, residences and Guardianship Foundation; and provides stable employment for 650 people in its special employment centers in Madrid, Colmenar Viejo, Barcelona, Malaga, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Envera leads the Competitive Social Responsibility Roundtable of Madrid Foro Empresarial and is El Confidencial's Influentials Award for Sustainable Organization 2018.
