"We are celebrating forty years of commitment, community and social transformation in El Prat de Llobregat," explains Olívia Ortega, director of the Francesc Palau Social Promotion Center. The institution was founded in 1985 as a result of the efforts of several volunteers and a religious organization to support the communities that lived in El Prat de Llobregat. "Our history began with a course to work on training women in order to help them access the labor market. Over the course of these forty years, the number of people linked to the space has grown and it was in 1996 that we officially established ourselves as a non-profit organization," explains Ortega. Gradually, the Francesc Palau Social Promotion Center has also increased its range of services and resources. "Little by little, we incorporated cultural activities, training for adults, digital literacy proposals or support sessions for migrants," specifies Ortega. Currently, the non-profit organization offers resources for training, job placement, care and community action. "With the help of the Xarxa Òmnia and the Xarxa Punt TIC, we work on digital training. We adapt the training courses according to the needs and interests of the participants," says Cristina Sobrino, facilitator of the Punt Òmnia Centre for Social Promotion Francesc Palau . Digital literacy, introduction to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, employability, training sessions for women caregivers of dependent people and advice and support for people who are immersed in the extraordinary regularization process of people in the State are the main areas of action of the Pratense non-profit organization. "Mostly, in the space, we serve adults. We also have a large number of elderly people and migrants," says Sobrino.
"First, I took Catalan classes and now, I'm taking classes in computer science, video editing, photography, spreadsheets and many other things. Here, I've learned everything. Every day, I learn something new. The best thing is that I do it without pressure. Here, everyone goes at their own pace and the teachers and volunteers always help you," says Trinidad Bermúdez, a user of the Francesc Palau Social Promotion Center. The goal is to help citizens achieve digital skills and improve their quality of life through technology. "I came when I took early retirement to learn a little more about computers, and now I do a little bit of everything. For example, I teach Spanish, I do schoolwork or I support people who come to learn how spreadsheets work," says Martín Martí, a volunteer at the Francesc Palau Social Promotion Center. "Personally, I think it is very important to offer this local space where residents can come and train, feeling good and knowing that if they have any problems, we are by their side," concludes Sobrino.