28 years accompanying the emancipation of young people in guardianship

Every year in Catalonia, more than 1,300 young people reach the age of majority and, therefore, are no longer under the guardianship of the Catalan government, beginning their transition to adulthood on their own. This figure has quadrupled in the last 10 years. As a society, we need to reverse this trend, ensuring that this group is not alone as they enter adulthood, a particularly vulnerable time. This is a mission that the non-profit organization Punt de Referència has been carrying out for almost three decades, creating connections through social mentoring promoted by volunteers who build trust with young people between the ages of 16 and 23 and support them for nine months.

José Luis Ruiz, 42, Head of Purchasing and Logistics at the Catalan Retina Institute, is one of Punt de Referència's volunteer mentors. "Above all, we create a safe space for young people to grow, gain autonomy, and build a positive social network," explains Ruiz, who also emphasizes that, as a mentor, he has learned "to listen better, to be more patient, and to value the small steps that often go unnoticed." Ruiz describes his experience with the organization as "enriching and very meaningful" and stresses the role of civil society, which has become "more essential than ever." "We must be an active counterweight to hate speech, making coexistence, solidarity, and the defense of human rights visible," he emphasizes. Ruiz also has a clear formula for eradicating hate speech: "We must create spaces for encounter and build networks that place the dignity of people at the center, as well as defend the community of young migrants as part of our present and our collective future."

Access to housing resources in the territory

The common thread running through all the initiatives undertaken by the organization is the view of each young person as the protagonist of their own life, not merely a recipient of social assistance. This is evident in every area where they are supported toward independence: education, job placement, housing search, legalizing their immigration status, and participation in community life. All of this aims to build a bond of trust between young people and their mentors, whom 98.27% of Punt de Referència's users recognize as the support network they can rely on to achieve their goals of independence—a very complex challenge without any support. Indeed, as the association points out, only 20% of young people aged 18 to 21 who reached adulthood while under guardianship have been able to access housing.

Punto de Referencia was founded in 1997 by Hannan, a young woman who had been in foster care. It is an association driven by organized civil society, meaning that its entire operation relies on the involvement of its members—128 today—who make financial contributions and participate in working groups and on the board of directors. Its goal is to reach 500 members by 2027.