El Cerezo de Villena

Asociación El Cerezo is a non-profit organization based in Villena (Alicante, Spain) with a long-standing commitment to social inclusion, youth empowerment, and socio-educational intervention. We believe in transforming realities by providing a safe, stimulating environment where young people can discover their potential. Through non-formal education, hands-on learning, and community engagement, we build bridges towards autonomy and active citizenship.

Our Target Group:
We work primarily with teenagers and young adults (aged 12-30) facing social, educational, or economic obstacles. Because many of our participants come from vulnerable backgrounds, working with young people with fewer opportunities is the core of our daily mission.

Main Activities:
Our methodologies are deeply rooted in "learning by doing" and non-formal education:

- Day-Care Centre & Daily Support: We provide homework assistance, life-skills development, and healthy leisure alternatives to foster personal growth.

- Pre-Vocational Workshops: We run dynamic, practical workshops (including gardening, cooking, aesthetics, and animal care) that serve as a motivational first step towards the labor market.

- Employability & Mentoring: We guide young people through their transition to adulthood with personalized insertion pathways, digital literacy, and job orientation.

What We Can Offer to Partners:

- Expertise in Inclusion: Extensive grassroots experience working with youth with fewer opportunities, a key priority in Erasmus+ projects.

- Dedicated Youth Workers: A motivated team of social educators and youth workers ready to share best practices and learn from others.

- Strong Local Network: Solid connections with local stakeholders, schools, and social enterprises in the Valencian Community.

What We Are Looking For:

We are eager to expand our European dimension! We are looking for reliable partners to collaborate within the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) frameworks. We are particularly interested in:

- Youth Exchanges: To give our local youth the chance to experience intercultural dialogue, break stereotypes, and build self-confidence.

- Mobility of Youth Workers (Training Courses & Job Shadowing): To exchange methodologies, improve our non-formal education tools, and network with European peers.

- Partnerships for Cooperation: Projects focusing on social inclusion, youth employability, and innovative educational approaches.