European mobility is an engine for meeting cultures and developing new skills. Working abroad offers young people a unique opportunity to develop technical and transversal skills that are crucial for their professional future, enabling them to return home with a more competitive profile and greater cultural awareness.
Thanks to the ALMA VIBRIA – Viatjar cap al canvi project, seven young NEETs from Catalonia had the opportunity to spend four months in Palermo, from April to July 2025, with the support of CESIE ETS, acting as the host organisation. During their stay, they undertook professional internships in line with their interests and had the opportunity to progress and grow individually through what mobility opportunities offer young people: stepping out of their comfort zone, sharing accommodation with other young people, but experiencing independence, encountering a culturally and linguistically different environment, and participating in educational and cultural experiences and activities with a significant impact.
The participants gained experience in a variety of professional fields, such as catering and pastry making, graphic design and audio-visual, tourism, social work with people with disabilities, IT support and outdoor sports activities. Each internship was a fundamental step towards their future, a unique opportunity to gain experience and clarity about their goals.
The journey undertaken by the participants was a true life experience, giving them the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the local context: the professional experience was accompanied by a stimulating non-formal education programme, designed to help them learn Italian and cope with culture shock, transforming initial difficulties into opportunities for adaptation and understanding, and a series of cultural activities that gave them the chance to get to know the area in depth, not from a tourist’s perspective, but with a particular focus on social phenomena and local history.
The activities carried out were: an orienteering challenge to discover the secrets of Palermo a few days after their arrival; a guided tour on the mafia and the history of judges Falcone and Borsellino, on the anniversary of the Capaci massacre on 23rd May; a trip between Partinico and Trappeto, places linked to Danilo Dolci, to explore the life and legacy of this extraordinary sociologist, non-violent activist, poet and educator; a visit to the Tonnara in the small village of Scopello, to learn about the history of the ancient technique of tuna fishing and enjoy the fascinating marine area.
The ALMA VIBRIA – Viatjar cap al canvi project was coordinated by the organisation La Víbria Intercultural and is proof that an experience abroad can be a unique opportunity for growth, learning and transformation, far beyond the traditional idea of an internship.
For more information about the project, please contact Cinzia Costa: cinzia.costa@cesie.org.
About ALMA VIBRIA
ALMA VIBRIA – Viatjar cap al canvi is funded by Servei d’Ocupació de Catalunya (SOC) and European Social Fund.
Partners
- La Víbria Intercultural (Spain, coordinator)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
For further information
Contact Cinzia Costa: cinzia.costa@cesie.org.
