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 6-7% of working-age people with disabilities are formally employed, one of the lowest rates in the OECD.

To address this reality, Best Buddies has launched an initiative designed to prepare 240 students with intellectual disabilities for life after school. This involves nearly twelve schools from all over the country, including Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Bodrum.

The program, which promotes success in employment and post-secondary education, aims to strengthen students’ self-advocacy skills and boost their confidence and family support, helping them successfully transition into the workforce.

To do this, it offers interactive workshops on skills like resume writing, interview preparation, and better communication, among other things. In addition, it also holds mock interviews, mentoring sessions, 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.

Fundación Mapfre supports the project through employee volunteering, mentoring and collaboration in key program activities, including workshops, mock interviews, mentoring sessions, Mentoring Day experiences and ongoing program evaluation.