The Lanzarote and La Graciosa Chamber of Commerce has wrapped up its Water Lifeguarding course, part of the Talento Joven initiative aimed at enhancing job prospects for unemployed individuals under 30.
Twenty-two young people, aged between 16 and 29 and registered in the Youth Guarantee scheme, have completed 150 hours of hands-on training in prevention, rescue, and first aid.
This initiative received funding from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Lanzarote Cabildo, aiming to provide free training tailored to the island’s job market needs.
Carmen Martinón, Vice President of the Chamber, noted that these programmes equip young people with skills directly linked to business demands. “Having well-trained professionals in prevention and rescue not only aids their employment but also enhances the quality and safety of local services,” she stated.
Ascensión Toledo, the Lanzarote Cabildo’s Councillor for Training and Inclusive Employment, emphasised the importance of institutional collaboration in creating job opportunities, asserting, “We are committed to generating real employment prospects for our youth.”
The training covered accident prevention, water rescue, and first aid techniques. Participants learned aquatic rescue methods, CPR, responses to choking, the use of semi-automatic external defibrillators, and labour risk prevention in aquatic environments. They also practiced swimming techniques and emergency response procedures.
Upon concluding the course, the Chamber stressed the value of such programmes in improving the qualifications of unemployed youth and meeting the demand for skilled staff in the island’s nautical, hospitality, and leisure sectors. The Talento Joven programme is supported by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, funded by the European Social Fund Plus, and backed by the Lanzarote Cabildo.
