“I Finally Feel Happy Again”: How ALMA Empowers Youth in Spain

“I was going through a very difficult time in my life, feeling overwhelmed and emotionally drained,” that’s how Roger Paiz Lanceta describes the months leading up to one of the biggest shifts of his life.

At the time, Roger was living in Granada, Spain. He had stopped studying, was stuck in an unstable job situation, and had withdrawn from his usual social life. He started going to therapy, but the bigger picture still felt fuzzy.

“I knew I needed support, and I was searching for something to help me move forward,” he remembers. That changed with one phone call.

A Chance to Start Over

The call came from Fundación Don Bosco, a local organisation Roger had been connected with for over a year. They had something new in the works: a chance to join the ALMA LT project, part of the ALMA initiative co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the European Social Fund Plus Social Innovation+ initiative.

Roger had never heard of ALMA before, but it immediately clicked. “I said yes without hesitation,” he says. “I felt like this could be a chance to break out of my situation and do something meaningful for myself.”

ALMA, which stands for Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve, is a transformative EU initiative designed for young people aged 18 to 29 who are not in employment, education, or training. The project in Andalusia, Spain, was called ALMA LT.

It begins with training in the home country. Participants then spend a few months in another EU country, gaining work-related learning experience with the support of a mentor. After returning, they continue to receive guidance in applying their new skills towards work or further study.

In total, 27 young people, Roger included, successfully completed the project, each of them embarking on their own journey of self-discovery and skill-building.

Before the Flight: A Grounded Start in Granada

Roger’s journey didn’t begin with a plane ticket – it started with trust and community.

In Granada, participants were guided through language classes, personal development workshops, and group sessions. More than just a series of lessons, the experience fostered a sense of belonging.

“Those sessions helped us get to know each other and prepared us with basic language skills,” he says. “It created a great environment where we felt like a real group, connected and supported.”

The group quickly became a support system, a collective of individuals working towards similar goals. And this sense of solidarity wasn’t limited to Roger. Of the 27 participants, many also formed deep connections that motivated them to keep moving forward.

Arriving in Germany: A New Chapter

The next step in the ALMA LT experience took Roger and the others to Germany. Here, the project offered real-world, hands-on experiences that prepared them for the future. Moreover, it helped them discover a different culture.

“Before going abroad, I sometimes felt isolated in my country,” admits Roger. “But through this experience, I realised how much we share across Europe – even with all our differences.”

“Roger wasn’t alone on this journey. He had a team supporting him – from the Loyola University staff in Spain to tutors and mentors at a music school in Germany. Everyone was there every step of the way to ensure each participant felt supported and cared for.”

“Once I arrived in Germany, the experience truly became transformative. I received incredible support from everyone involved, and they made sure I was taken care of, not just logistically but emotionally as well,” remembers Roger.

“I even had access to a psychologist while I was abroad, which helped me stay grounded,” he adds. “I felt like people genuinely cared about my well-being, and that made all the difference in how I approached every day.”

For the 27 participants who completed the project, this support structure made a world of difference. Navigating new environments, managing budgets, or figuring out daily logistics all became part of the journey, helping them build resilience and confidence for the future.

Small Moments, Big Lessons

Ask Roger what changed him the most, and he won’t point to a single dramatic moment. Instead, it was the steady rhythm of everyday growth that shaped his transformation.

He learned how to communicate better with friends and family whom he had been neglecting due to his struggles. He also became more responsible with time and, perhaps most importantly, discovered a sense of independence that he didn’t know he had.

“I used to struggle a lot with managing my money, but having economic independence during the project helped me become more responsible and aware of my spending,” says Roger.

One standout memory? Playing and listening to the organ in a small-town church in Greven.

“After I played the organ, the church’s organist performed a piece by J.S. Bach, who is my favourite composer. That moment moved me to tears. It felt like everything else disappeared, and there was only me and the music in that dimly lit church,” vividly remembers Roger.

“Later, he showed us the hidden corners of the church, including a 12th-century bell tower. As someone who loves history, I was in absolute awe,” he says. “That day changed something in me – spiritually, emotionally, and musically.”

For Roger and many of the 27 participants, moments like these defined the ALMA experience. They were small steps in the right direction, but they created lasting change.

Real Change, Beyond the Stats

While ALMA’s success is quantifiable – 95% of participants who completed the project either returned to education, secured employment, or began vocational training – the real impact is much more personal. For participants, it represented the chance to reframe their future, gaining not just skills but also confidence.

“Participants reported significant gains in language skills, intercultural competence, and emotional resilience,” says Ilaria Fossella, the Project Manager at ALMA LT. “It also was validated by families and employers, who observed notable improvements in the participants’ maturity, motivation, and employability.”

According to Fossella, among the 27 young people who successfully completed the full ALMA LT experience, seven secured jobs, seven obtained internships with employment contracts, six resumed formal education, five enrolled in training, and only one person remained inactive.

“These figures alone speak volumes about ALMA’s effectiveness in bridging the gap between social vulnerability and professional opportunity,” he says. “Moreover, the experience fostered a sense of European identity and solidarity, empowering youth to break cycles of exclusion and envision new possibilities.”

What Comes Next?

Back in Spain, Roger is planning his next steps with more clarity than ever. He still faces the unknown, but he no longer feels stuck. His future is full of possibilities.

“ALMA changed my life. I started to feel happiness I hadn’t felt in over a year. My perspective on problems shifted. I’ve rebuilt my relationship with music, feel motivated to read and learn new languages, and have reconnected with the parts of myself I had lost,” says Roger.

This journey for him was a turning point – a launchpad for continuous self-improvement.

“I want to continue growing in every way. I want to enjoy music, I want to travel and see the world, I plan to go back to school, and I’d love to work in caregiving,” says Roger. “One of my dreams is to write a philosophical work, inspired by everything I’ve learned from life, books, and experiences like this one.”

Thanks to the experience with ALMA LT, Roger can finally see his strengths and appreciate who he is. And sometimes, that is all you need to begin again – whether you are one of 27 or taking your first step on your own.

Learn more: ALMA LT project

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