ALMA Gave Us Direction: Real Stories of Transformation in Málaga, Spain

Stuck. That’s how Adriana Alicia Luján Cayaduro and Samuel Johnson described themselves before they encountered the ALMA initiative – an experience that changed everything.

Adriana had left Bolivia in search of a better future in Spain. The transition wasn’t too difficult, as both countries share a language, but once she arrived, the reality fell short of her expectations. She felt adrift, unsure about her next steps.

Samuel, meanwhile, was battling his introversion. He struggled even to smile or open up to those around him. The pressure to figure out his future left him demotivated, quietly wrestling with a sense of disconnection and a lack of direction.

That’s when they discovered ALMA – an opportunity that nudged them both towards something more hopeful: a life transformed by courage, experience, and newfound self-belief.

What is ALMA?

ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) is a European Union initiative designed to support young people aged 18 to 29 who are not in employment, education, or training. Various ALMA projects are co-funded by the EU and implemented through the European Social Fund Plus Social Innovation+ initiative.

Each project follows three stages: tailored training in the participant’s home country, supervised work-related learning experience in another country, and follow-up support to help young people apply their new skills towards employment or education.

In Málaga, Spain, the project under the ALMA initiative was called ‘Creating Employment Opportunities for Youth’ (CEO-Y), run by the Arrabal-AID organisation. The initiative invited young people to redefine their futures through a journey of self-discovery and skill-building.

In total, 30 young people, including Adriana and Samuel, joined the CEO-Y project. They received support through language classes, personal development workshops, group sessions, and a 70-day work-related learning experience in Germany, Italy, or Lithuania.

Discovering Purpose in Hospitality

Samuel’s journey with the ALMA initiative began with self-doubt. Quiet and reserved, he felt as though life was passing him by. But when he joined the initiative, he gained not only confidence but also the skills and knowledge he had been missing.

“The training before going abroad helped me bond with my housemates and explore topics I used to avoid, like cooking or gender equality,” he says. “The whole experience also improved my English.”

Samuel was offered a work-related learning experience in Weimar, Germany, where he worked in the hospitality industry. Initially, he saw hotel work as unimportant and underappreciated, but hands-on experience quickly changed that perspective.

“Guests would ask me for help, and I was surprised by how grateful they were,” he recalls. “It made me realise that no job is too small. I enjoyed helping people and interacting with them. By the end, I even said I wouldn’t mind staying.”

Week by week, Samuel grew in confidence. He learned to budget, navigate unfamiliar cities, and, most importantly, trust himself. Thanks to ALMA, he now feels more independent, responsible, and curious about both life and work.

Just a few weeks after returning home, Samuel found a job.

“This experience showed me how important it is to keep learning,” he says. “Everything happened so quickly because I invested in myself. My next goal is to keep working, save money, and become fully independent.”

Designing Your Own Future

For Adriana, leaving behind the familiar wasn’t new – she had already crossed continents. But even in Spain, where she spoke the language, she struggled to find her footing professionally.

“I wanted to try something new,” she says. “The training courses I was offered didn’t motivate me.” Then, a friend told her about ALMA.

It wasn’t the travel that appealed most – it was the promise of purposeful growth. When an opportunity in Lithuania came up, Adriana said yes.

“I was scared,” she remembers. “Going to a country with a different language was a challenge. It was my first real work experience, so I tried to give it my all.”

Adriana was placed at a design firm, working on interior and graphic design projects. She quickly found her rhythm. Her colleagues were patient and supportive, and with each task, her skills and confidence grew.

What began as work experience became a defining moment in her personal and professional journey.

“I didn’t know much at first, but I learned a lot,” she says. “Before this experience, I struggled to trust and open up. But now I’ve built strong bonds and even found a sense of family.”

Back in Málaga, Adriana has secured a permanent role in design and is already dreaming of opening her own studio.

“I used to be discouraged by comments from family and friends when I shared my ideas,” she admits. “But now I finally believe in myself.”

Beyond Skills: What ALMA Really Builds

ALMA doesn’t just teach practical skills – it builds people. Through its blend of tailored training, transnational work-related learning experiences, and dedicated mentorship, it empowers young adults not only to work but to thrive.

Adriana and Samuel are just two of many who have emerged from the project with renewed confidence, clarity, and purpose. And the statistics reflect this success.

“Five months after returning to Spain, more than half of participants are already working, a third are studying, and almost all the others are actively engaged in job search programmes,” says Juan De Lucas, a representative from Arrabal-AID.

Numbers are only part of the story. The real catalyst for change wasn’t just the time spent abroad or finding a job at the end of the experience – it was the human connection from dedicated mentors and coaches who stood by the participants, offering support and motivation when it mattered most.

“ALMA offers a level of support that many similar initiatives lack,” he adds. “Participants don’t just gain new skills, they regain their faith in the future of learning and work.”

Projects like CEO-Y have also opened young people’s eyes to the diversity and warmth of other cultures. It allowed them to experience the real meaning of being part of the European Union.

“Don’t worry about the language barrier,” says Samuel. “In Germany, some of my colleagues spoke less English than I did, but we still understood each other.”

“I had a stereotype that Lithuanians might be colder,” Adriana adds. “But I was wrong – people were lovely. While in Lithuania, I even travelled to nearby countries, something I was too afraid to do even while living in Spain. Now I’m grateful to be living in Europe.”

And for those who are hesitant about joining ALMA? “It’s nothing like a classroom,” Adriana says. “You won’t be bored, and you won’t feel alone. You’ll grow, learn, and meet amazing people. Just jump in with a positive attitude and an open mind.”

Learn more: CEO-Y project

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