The implementation of HERA Labs in Spain is proving to be a success within the community of women over 45 in the city of Yecla. After a challenging start, interest in the project has been steadily increasing thanks to positive word-of-mouth publicity generated by the participants themselves.
Initially, it was difficult to engage a significant number of women, as few were willing to commit to attending sessions for six to seven months. CETEM, the main organisation responsible for the implementation in Spain, made a significant recruitment effort through advertising campaigns, social media, and appearances on local television and radio. This was ultimately complemented by the snowball effect generated by those who began to get involved and saw the project’s potential.
Now, after five months and eight sessions, the programme can be considered a genuine success. Twenty-two women have become involved, and they feel that their lives are changing and that they have more power to decide where to focus their further training. The participants have been sharing ideas and experiences, offering each other inspiration and encouragement, and thus building a strong sense of connection and mutual support. They are guided by facilitator Nuria Gil, who constantly encourages them to work together towards their personal goals.
The latest sessions have focused on equipping participants with the tools and knowledge to identify and evaluate training opportunities aligned with their personal and professional goals. In April, the “Engagement with local stakeholders” phase will begin. During this phase, participants will meet female role models from the community who will share personal stories of overcoming challenges and offer empowering advice to support their continued process of personal growth and empowerment.
The final phases of HERA Labs in Spain will last until the end of June. This will include a phase in which the participants will take the reins of their own journey, build their personal paths together, and explore concrete steps to advance their learning, their job placement, or their entrepreneurial project.
