Best Buddies trains young people in Türkiye for inclusive employment

In Türkiye, many young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities encounter structural barriers when they finish school and begin to consider their future careers. Many schools lack the resources and specific programs needed to prepare these students for professional life. In fact, only 6% and 7% of working-age people with disabilities are formally employed, one of the lowest rates in the OECD.

To address this situation, Best Buddies has launched an initiative aimed at preparing 240 students with intellectual disabilities for employment. These young people are enrolled in around twelve schools, most of which are located in Ankara.

The program will offer interactive workshops on skills such as resume writing, interview preparation, and better communication, among other things. It will also include mock interviews, mentoring, internships in real-world settings, and a Mentoring Day at MAPFRE’s offices so that students can get a close-up look at how the working world operates.

This proposal not only prepares students for their first job, but also promotes a broader shift toward inclusion, involving schools, families (through informational sessions), businesses, and the entire community.

At Fundación MAPFRE, we support the project by facilitating staff recruitment, developing training and travel opportunities, providing informational materials, and promoting program evaluation.