ABOUT US

We help youngsters with no support network in Catalonia take the leading role in their lives.

We are a Catalan non-profit association that provides support for youngsters in situations of vulnerability through their transition to adulthood. We were established in Barcelona in 1997 by Hannan, a young former ward of state.

We assist them in all areas of emancipation and job seeking, looking for housing, training, and legalising documentation, paying particular attention to emotional support.

Punt de Referència is known for its mentoring programme based on fostering respectful, transformative ties between volunteers and youngsters, which has become a benchmark project of social innovation.

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International Impact

International projects

Re-Generations Project
2019-2021

Through the Re-Generations project, we advised the organisations DCI Italy and ARSIS Greece on the design and implementation in their regions of the mentoring model designed by Punt de Referència.
The project lasted for 3 years and came to an end with the implementation of social mentoring for migrant youths in Genova and Thessalonica.

Road to Adulthood Project
2022-2024

Through the Road to Adulthood initiative, we created a methodological guide for mentoring projects related to education for migrant youths.

The guide was produced along with DCI Italy, ARSIS Greece and Mentoring Europe to foster innovation and continuous improvement in the mentoring models linked to education.

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Presence at Congresses

European Mentoring Summit 2022
(Leeuwarden, The Netherlands)

Congreso Estatal de Mentoría Social 2022
(Pamplona, Spain)

7th European Migration Forum 2022
(Brussels, Belgium)

Jornada “Migracions, Refugi i Antiracisme” 2022
(Barcelona, Brussels, Belgium)

7è Congrés del Tercer Sector Social 2022
(Barcelona, Brussels, Belgium)

Fòrum d’abandonament i trajectòries educatives 2022
(Barcelona, Brussels, Belgium)

Our Work

Punt de Referència has been working for over 25 years on ensuring that youngsters at risk of social exclusion play an active role in building their lives. We therefore see support as a process that respects the individuality of each youngster and their situation, highlighting their potential, resources, motivations and dreams.

WE WORK IN 3 AREAS

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SOCIAL
PROGRAMME

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SERVICES FOR
ORGANISATIONS

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AWARENESS
RAISING

MENTORING HOUSING SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION

MENTORING
Knowing we’re always there

In providing support, we safeguard the youngster’s right to belong to a community, and we do this by involving society through volunteer work.

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Referents Project

We foster trusting ties between youngsters and volunteering mentors who support them over 9 months through their emancipation process to provide a close, positive relational network.

Atenea Project

Volunteers support youngsters in their studies to improve their language skills, offer them guidance, and help them follow their educational pathway.

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Hosting programme for former wards of state in family homes for 9 months to create ties and cohabitation habits.

“In the study workshop, they help me do my homework and classwork, understand Catalan, and solve any everyday problems”.

Manal, a participant in the Atenea project.

HOUSING
The warmth of a home

Punt de Referència facilitates access to housing for former wards of state or those in situations of vulnerability who are having difficulties finding a home through different programmes.

Assisted apartments

Former wards of state between the ages of 18 and 21 can stay in assisted apartments for three years to facilitate their emancipation process.

El Pas Homes

Long-term accommodation for youngsters at risk of exclusion to establish their emancipation process. This programme is linked to cooperative housing projects.

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”It’s a really good opportunity for me. This isn’t just any old apartment. We share everything with the neighbours, and they’re always there when you need them”.

Neighbour of La Balma, cooperative housing in Poblenou, Barcelona.

SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION
Shared struggles

The organisation promotes ongoing support adapted to the needs of each youngster and defends the rights of former wards of state, promoting empowerment projects led by participating youngsters.

Trajecte

We network with other organisations, groups and professionals to meet the administrative, educational, employability, health, leisure or legal support needs of youngsters in situations of vulnerability.

Som Llavor

We encourage participation by youngsters as rights-holders and community ties through teamwork and audio-visual creation.

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Photographic project produced in Som Llavor

“The exhibition shows people how we think and how we feel rather than judge us for how we dress or for our appearance, and that’s really important.”

Mohamed, participant in the photographic project Cuinant Identitats designed in Som Llavor.

SERVICES FOR ORGANISATIONS

Punt de Referència offers training and consultancy in mentoring and fostering, aimed at specialist organisations and professionals in the field.

TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY
in mentoring

We train educational teams in mentoring, we provide advice on the design of mentoring programmes, and we offer consultancy on the implementation of mentoring programmes.

TRAINING
in fostering

We provide training on the implementation of fostering projects aimed at migrant youths with no support network in the region.

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Want to train with us?

AWARENESS RAISING

Beyond support for youngsters in situations of vulnerability, we also publicise awareness-raising campaigns to denounce the structures that segregate and condemn people to live at the edge of society, as well as racist and xenophobic policies and other criminalising attitudes.

Un gest, un món

We have promoted the campaign Un gest, un món aimed at raising awareness of the importance of mentors for youngsters without a support network in the region with incredible results: over 100 people joined the Punt de Referència mentoring programmes.

Video of the initiative

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Your involvement can help improve the lives of youngsters at risk of social exclusion.

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