By Jesús Puente, Technical Coordinator of PUENTE Project – Fundación Juan Ciudad
When I’m asked how the PUENTE Project will change non-formal education for adults, I usually say that it’s not about an immediate or superficial change. It is a transformation already underway, built step by step, born from an urgent need but also from a deep conviction: education can truly be a bridge to inclusion, dignity, and personal reconstruction.
At Fundación Juan Ciudad, I have the privilege of coordinating this project within a European consortium involving organizations from six countries. From this vantage point, I can say that the PUENTE Project is not just a training initiative—it is a real and human response to one of the major crises we face in Europe: the inclusion of Ukrainian refugees following the war that began in 2022, which has affected nearly 7 million people.
Participating in this project reconnects us with the values of a caring Europe, committed to defending human rights and the dignity of all individuals. Investing in education as a tool for social transformation strengthens our belief in a Europe capable of developing responses based on dialogue, collaboration, and a culture of peace, while promoting social cohesion and mutual understanding.
The non-formal education course we are building
We are currently developing a training course aimed at everyone who supports adult refugees in their integration processes. We’re not only referring to educators: we also include social workers, healthcare personnel, volunteers, employment professionals, interpreters, and reception staff. All of them are part of this care ecosystem.
This course will not be just another training. We are designing it with a practical, accessible, and profoundly human approach. We want to provide useful and sensitive tools to support, educate, and accompany adults who have faced extreme vulnerability—often shaped by trauma, uncertainty, and a lack of information.
Listening before teaching
One of the most important moments in the project so far was the publication of the results from our European survey. In it, Ukrainian refugees shared their experiences upon arriving in host countries. One in five said they had not received basic information about their rights. Sixteen percent reported not having access to psychosocial support.
These findings had a strong impact on us. But more importantly, they compelled us to act. We decided to strengthen the course content. Because you can’t teach without understanding. And you can’t train without caring.
It’s not just about content, but also about attitudes
In the same survey, only two out of three professionals reported having received training before starting their work. This is a gap the PUENTE Project aims to address: to train in order to empower, to accompany those who accompany others—so no one is left alone.
We are working to ensure that the course is useful, replicable, and adaptable to different European contexts. But also to ensure it has a transformative dimension: that those who complete it not only acquire skills, but also reflect on how they see, communicate, and relate to the people they support.
Towards impactful non-formal education
PUENTE Project seeks to change non-formal education on several fronts:
- Expanding the concept of who educates, by including all individuals involved in inclusion processes.
- Integrating a psychosocial approach from the outset—not as an add-on.
- Providing open materials and a guide of best practices, so other organizations can replicate this model.
- Positioning non-formal education as a strategic pillar for inclusion, not as a secondary or parallel path.
A values-based project, meaningful education
This project is being built on the values we all share as partner organizations: hospitality, inclusion, diversity, respect, and a firm commitment to human rights. We are doing this through the collaborative work of eight organizations, drawing on extensive experience with over 1,100 refugees, and—above all—guided by a deep belief in the transformative power of education.
I know the PUENTE Project won’t solve all challenges. But I also know it can make a real difference in the lives of many: those arriving in Europe in search of a new beginning, and those who are there to welcome them with open arms. And if, thanks to this project, even one person feels heard, guided, and empowered to start over, then we will have already achieved a great deal.
PUENTE Project is just that: a bridge to autonomy, hope, and rebuilding. And we are building it—together.
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