New role models, new perspectives: 279 young people expand their horizons with the Coach Project
Over the past few weeks, Fundación Exit has held the closing sessions of the Coach Project corresponding to the second trimester of the school year in Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville, with a total of 279 young participants.
This project aims to support young people in situations of social vulnerability, helping them discover their strengths, develop key skills, and orient themselves toward the professional world, always accompanied by committed company volunteers.
Barcelona: Multi-Company and Barcelona+B, keys to learning
In Barcelona, two main editions were held. The first, the Multi-Company Coach Project, involved 39 young people from CFA Municipal L’Olivera (Computer Science and Communications) and CFA El Masnou (Commerce and Marketing, and Physical Activities and Sports).
They were accompanied by 41 volunteers from companies such as AC Marca, Adecco, Aigües de Barcelona, Allianz Seguros, AXA de Todo Corazón, Boehringer Ingelheim España, Fundació Claror, General Electric, Grupo Bimbo, Grupo Serveo, IBM, and Sage.
The young participants highlighted how enriching the experience was and the meaningful connections they created with their coaches, expressing a desire to maintain contact. Volunteers emphasized the resilience of the young people and their ability to face challenges without giving up. It was a final session where talent, motivation, and mutual understanding blended to make it unforgettable, with the support of the Diputació de Barcelona.
The second edition, framed within the Board 2030 of Barcelona+B —an alliance of major companies committed to creating opportunities for young people and reducing school dropout— brought together 147 young people from 10 classrooms and 8 educational centers, including Institut Poblenou, Institut Provençana, PTT Sant Feliu, Salesians Sarrià, Institut Hospital del Mar FP Sanitària, Institut Pablo Picasso, Institut d’FP Sanitària Vall d’Hebron, and Institut Escola del Treball.
These young people were accompanied by 147 volunteers from companies such as Ferrer, TRAM, Alstom, EADA Business School, Reig Jofre, Medichem, ImpactCo, Donte Group, Laie, Zurich, Clínica Baviera, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE, Uriach, and Quadpack.
During these sessions, the young participants highlighted the motivation they received, the clarity of their objectives, the discovery of new professional possibilities, and the value of teamwork and personal development. For many volunteers, it was an opportunity to learn and grow.
Madrid: Support and opportunities
In Madrid, three editions were held during this trimester. The final session of the Multi-Company Coach Project involved 40 young people from CEPA José Luis Sampedro, IES Francisco Tomás y Valiente, and IES Luis Braille, accompanied by 39 volunteers from 13 companies: Adecco, Allianz Seguros e Inversiones, AXA de Todo Corazón, CSIC, Fundación Moeve, Grupo Serveo, Motorola Solutions, New Line Events, Pinsent Masons, PwC España, Sacyr, Sage, and Vincci Hotels.
“In this edition of the project, I had the chance to accompany Doelso, and it was a real discovery for me: for their talent, their abilities, and especially their way of communicating, which impressed me because it does not at all correspond to their age or environment,” said Ismael, a volunteer from Moeve.
The day included an inspiring talk by journalist and TV presenter Flora González, focusing on her experience and professional career, offering valuable advice on the importance of education, effort, and seeking guidance. The young participants listened attentively, asked questions, and requested advice. The talk was introduced by Eduardo Ortega, a member of the board.
Later, the young people took part in activities focused on reflecting on the project, motivation, and the lessons learned, with the support of Fundación Altamar and Fundación Iberdrola.
During this trimester, two editions of Leader Coach were also held. The first, with ING Direct, brought together 19 young people from Asociación Cultural Norte Joven along with 17 volunteers, highlighting the importance of pursuing dreams patiently and learning from life’s ups and downs. Tamara, a young participant, commented: “You can learn from doubts, and life is not a straight line; there are ups and downs.”
The second, with Banco Santander, brought together 20 young people from IES El Cañaveral (Commerce and Marketing classroom) along with 20 company volunteers. Both experiences focused on discovering the business world and developing key skills such as communication, emotional management, teamwork, and proactivity.
Seville: Leader Coach with Persán
In Seville, a Leader Coach format was held with the company Persán, supporting 14 students from FP Básica at Colegio La Milagrosa, focusing on self-knowledge, teamwork, and exploring professional opportunities.
During these weeks, the young participants had the chance to approach the professional world, not just to see a company from the inside, but to discover new possibilities, break preconceived ideas, and start imagining a future with more options.
Blanca, a volunteer, commented: “It was such a beautiful and unifying experience that we decided to keep in touch.” María José added: “The students were enthusiastic and were able to identify the benefits of the program.” Antonio stated: “Undoubtedly the best session of all. Besides working with the young person assigned to me, we could share group lessons from this experience. A fantastic way to close the project because it allowed me to get to know all the participants very well.”
The impact of the Coach Project, supported by Think Human Foundation, goes beyond visits and brief encounters: it creates real role models, honest conversations, and spaces to reflect, ask questions, and build confidence.
Transforming lives through collaboration
The Coach Project demonstrates how collaboration between educational centers, companies, and social entities creates real pathways for young people in situations of vulnerability. Thanks to the commitment of volunteers and collaborating companies, each young person has the opportunity to discover their potential, find inspiring role models, and advance their personal and professional development.
One more step toward a future full of opportunities and young talent. Will you join this change?
