Bilbao [Spain], May 21: Growing up in rural areas offers many advantages, but for young people seeking careers beyond traditional sectors such as farming or fishing, it often means having to leave home in search of better opportunities.
In the Basque province of Biscay in northern Spain, however, a local initiative supported by the regional government is helping to reverse that trend, offering hope to young residents while supplying skilled talent to local industry.
The initiative centers around the "Leartibai Fundazioa," or the Leartibai Foundation, located in the town of Markina-Xemein in the Lea-Artibai district, a region with a population of just 26,000 spread across 12 municipalities. Nestled among steep wooded hills and extending to the fishing towns of Ondarroa and Lekeitio, the area traditionally relies on farming and fishing. Yet, through the work of the foundation, young people are increasingly able to find modern career paths without leaving their communities.
The foundation recently received an award from the provincial government of Biscay for its contributions to industrial innovation. The district is home to more than 200 industrial companies, many of which are cooperatives owned by the workers themselves. The Leartibai Foundation acts as a coordinating body that brings together public and private entities to pursue shared goals for local economic development. It is supported not only by the regional government but also by two key institutions located nearby: the Leartibai Technical School and Leartiker, a research and innovation center.
"We know the help that companies need, and we can support them in every area, such as obtaining grants for digitalization or helping them sell products online," said Ainhoa Arrizubieta of the foundation. "You need to know each company on an individual level, understand their focus, and how to help them reach it."
According to Arrizubieta, the foundation assists in setting up around 30 to 35 companies annually, some of which are small, service-oriented businesses.
The initiative also relies on collaboration with the mayors of all 12 municipalities in the district, who have equal input regardless of their town's size. Through joint planning, they identified 40 infrastructure projects to prioritize, many of which are funded by both the provincial government and the European Union's development funds.
Next to the foundation's premises is the Leartiker Technology Center, which focuses on research in polymer materials and food technology. These areas of innovation are particularly relevant to local agricultural producers, helping to generate new products and create jobs. "Through our work in research and development, we generate new knowledge and techniques that improve the competitive advantage of our companies and society," said Borja Angulo of Leartiker.
Just a short walk away is the Leartibai Technical School, which accepts students aged 16 and older for vocational training and job placements.
"We give students a grant which allows them to complete further training," said school director Noelia Barruetabena. She explained that many student tasks are directly aligned with the needs of local companies, giving students a practical advantage in the job market. "It helps them have better training, and companies can come here firsthand to recruit them."
As a result, 82 percent of students find jobs in their chosen field, enabling them to start careers without leaving home.
Kide, a worker-owned cooperative specializing in refrigeration solutions, has strong ties with the foundation and the technical school. "Leartibai Foundation helps us with information and support -- they know what we want and what we need," said General Director Mario Lopez. "We also collaborate with the technical school by offering work experience placements. It allows young people to understand what they need to study to work here or at another local company."
Notably, 80 percent of Kide's 180 employees are local, something Lopez said improves quality of life while also reducing the company's ecological footprint.
Sometimes, the best solutions start close to home
Source: Xinhua News Agency
