Germina Foundation

Germina Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation located in Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona, Spain). Founded in 2004, we offer support and opportunities to children, teens, young adults and families from a socially disadvantaged background. Over a hundred children and teens participate each day in our social programmes. A mixed team of professional staff with the support of volunteers is in charge of all activities. We attend children, teens and young adults by implementing four socio-educational programmes: -Centre obert. This is an after-school club for children aged 5-12. We offer a healthy environment for the development of all children. After a daily snack and playground time, children receive an hour of dedicated support for school homework, followed by another hour of educational activities such as sports, arts, cooking workshops or visits to the library or public parks. Special activities such as urban camps or fieldtrips to the mountains are held during school holidays. -Espai jove. This is the after-school programme for teens aged 12-16 who are in secondary education. The programme provides healthy leisure time and school support. Every weekday afternoon, teens meet to play some games, have a snack, or engage in friendly conversations. Afterwards, they spend some time studying, either doing their homework or using new and attractive ways of learning. Each day finishes with a group activity chosen by them according to their interests (sports, relaxing, cooking…). This programme also runs during school holidays in the morning. -GR Gran Recorregut. Gran Recorregut means “long distance pathway”. This name illustrates the aim of the project, to offer guidance to young people aged 16-21 to support them in their life and educational journeys. Each boy or girl sets their own path with guidance from the educators. The main activities are one-to-one interviews and tailored support that addresses the individual needs of each of the young adults. They also participate in group activities depending on their interests or itinerary, for example entrepreneurship workshops, international youth exchanges, training courses, workplace visits or volunteering initiatives. -Families. This programme engages with the families of children and teens participating in the above programmes. It promotes a healthy relationship between parents and children and also provides basic support to home management. Additionally, the programme aims to build a self-support network between families. Every week parents attend workshops on topics such as low-cost healthy eating or sewing techniques. They can also participate in emotional learning activities that include performing arts, dancing, painting, etc. -We also run community programmes to improve the town we live in, Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Children, teens and families play a central role in leading these programmes. Key activities include managing an urban garden where we grow vegetables and fruits, monthly performing arts activities in public spaces and leisure activities for children and teens in public parks. In 2015 we created the social enterprise Urban Time. Its objective is to offer a first part-time job opportunity to young adults participating in our socio-educational programmes so that they can earn an income and support their studies in higher education. Urban Time offers leisure activities to the general public (mainly children and teens) focusing on street events such as skate, parkour, graffiti or DJ. Our young adults are contracted as educators by schools and municipalities to organise after-school workshops, urban camps during schools holidays and public events involving young people.