Madrid | January 3, 2022
The Christmas campaign has brought new employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in the labor insertion group of Envera's Occupational Center in Colmenar Viejo. Thanks to the expansion of the high quality manipulation services that Envera offers to companies, seven young people have obtained a job, being for most of them their first contact with the working world.
Envera's Special Employment Center in Colmenar Viejo has undergone a transformation in recent weeks to accommodate the high demand for handling that takes place at this time, especially with the preparation and packaging of Christmas baskets, thanks to the trust that customers place in the services that Envera develops for more than 200 companies and organizations.
Envera, as a non-profit social entity, develops these services with a view to its commitment to the creation and maintenance of protected employment for people with disabilities, especially intellectual disabilities. Thanks to this effort, in the difficult times we are living through due to the pandemic, Envera employs about 850 people with disabilities in its offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and through the Envera Inclusion Point project in shopping centers.
That is why Envera congratulates itself on having achieved one of the objectives pursued by its Occupational Centers: the labor integration of people with intellectual disabilities who until now had not been able to find that opportunity.
This is the case of José Antonio Redondo and Lenin Richard Maldonado, who are "excited, happy and grateful for the opportunity" and who have contributed to the work done by the Envera Special Employment Center during these weeks. Lenin also emphasizes that he is "proud to be able to help at home and enjoy the results of a job well done".
For their colleagues, Montserrat Alegre and Leticia Estébenez, taking the leap into the world of work has meant "getting to know themselves" and proving that fears can be overcome. Both describe their first contact with the world of work with happiness and excitement, and are happy both with the work they are doing and with their colleagues and those in charge of the Special Employment Center.
Toufek El Banoudi, who loves working at Envera, and David García, who is excited about receiving a salary and being able to be independent, say that he feels useful and stronger every day.
Before COVID-19, both José Antonio and David completed training internships at the Colmenar Viejo City Council, which allowed them to develop work and professional skills that are now indispensable for their integration into a job.
Unlike his peers, Mounir Mohamadi does have work experience behind him. This young man feels "valued and loved" with the security provided by the support of Envera's team of professionals, which includes not only his colleagues and managers, but also the Support Unit of the Special Employment Center, made up of a multidisciplinary team (psychologist, job coach and social worker), and by the professionals of the job placement group, his fundamental supports, Leticia and Gema.
Leticia Hernández and Gema Dávila are in charge of preparing and accompanying people with intellectual disabilities at the Envera Occupational Center in Colmenar Viejo for their integration into the world of work. A task that is not without challenges and difficulties caused largely by the lack of opportunities that companies offer to people with intellectual disabilities.
Not knowing the qualifications of these professionals or making decisions based on prejudices causes many companies to miss out on the potential and competitive advantages of hiring people with disabilities, such as compliance with the General Disability Act, generating a greater sense of belonging among their employees, reducing absenteeism or improving the customer experience.
Envera assures that "these factors are essential for the strategic development of companies in the global society of the 21st century, which increasingly demands a greater commitment to sustainability, social responsibility and diversity management".
