The Kairós Social and Health Care Experiential Employment and Training Program is publicly funded and managed by the INAEM. It combines theoretical training and practical experience in real-world settings.
The Kairós Sociosanitario Experiential Employment and Training Program not only trains professionals: it transforms perspectives, breaks down prejudices, and opens up new job opportunities in one of the most essential sectors with the greatest social impact. Funded by credits allocated to Aragon by the Sectoral Employment Conference and managed through the Aragonese Employment Institute (INAEM), the program combines theoretical training and practical experience in real social and healthcare settings.
Nursing homes, occupational centers for people with disabilities, and independent living apartments become living classrooms where students learn by accompanying, listening, and supporting others. This type of learning goes beyond technical skills and puts the person at the center.
During the alternating phase, participants carry out tasks related to educational support, social accompaniment, personal autonomy, and emotional support, always under the supervision of professionals. From literacy and numeracy activities to support with pre-employment tasks, order preparation, or craft-making, the experience is as diverse as the contexts in which it takes place.
A change in perspective and work environment
The responses to the assessment questionnaires completed by the program's students offer a significant overview not only of what they have learned professionally, but also of how this experience has transformed their outlook on life and the value and meaning of accompanying, supporting, and caring for others. They particularly highlight the personal change that comes from working with people with disabilities and/or dependency issues. "At first, I felt insecure because I didn't know anything about it, but over time I discovered that many of the barriers were within me," admits one of the students. Others talk about learning to communicate better, overcoming fears, and understanding the importance of not being overprotective and always respecting each person's decisions.
The challenges do not disappear, but they are faced with observation, calmness, and professional support. Managing behavior, dealing with frustration, and unlearning old welfare patterns are all part of the process. "It's a change of perspective: disability is a different way of seeing, feeling, and being in the world, which we must learn to understand and stop judging," they summarize.
The employment aspect is another pillar of the program. For participants, this experience means getting back into study habits, combining theory and practice, and obtaining official Level 2 qualifications in social and health care, both at home and in institutions. "It opens real doors to employment and makes me feel more confident about starting a new professional stage," they say.
Beyond employability, students agree on the value of social and healthcare work: an essential job, still underappreciated, that provides care, combats loneliness, and dignifies the lives of many people. "It's not just about assisting; it's about accompanying with respect and humanity," they point out.
To sum up their experience on the program in one sentence, they consider it a life lesson, a new beginning, or a second chance. Overall, they define it as "a new perspective on disability and dependency," a different way of seeing, feeling, and being in the world that can only be understood when experienced from within.
With this program, Kairós, a social initiative cooperative, maintains its commitment to training as a key tool for social change, generating opportunities for employment and personal development, and strengthening the labor and social fabric of the social and healthcare sector.
Kairós works on projects dedicated to children, young people, and families, develops social and labor projects in collaboration with various public institutions, private initiatives, and partner companies, and manages social housing programs and individual intervention plans. For more information about the organization's network of services, resources, and training programs, visit its website at https://kairos.coop/