Training takes place at Elda Arts and Crafts School, where a dedicated shoe repair program is offered with full backing from Labora. The course comprises 160 hours of combined theoretical instruction and practical hands‑on work, and is scheduled to conclude on June 26. The training center hosting these sessions has official accreditation from Labora, reinforcing its credibility and standard of education.
According to Marián Cano, president of Avecal, this program is designed to empower refugees to pursue employment opportunities in the footwear industry. By equipping participants with marketable skills, the initiative aids their integration and long‑term retention within the Valencian community and similar regions in North America and Canada where skilled trades are valued.
The course benefit is enhanced by the tutor, who hails from Ukraine. In addition to delivering content in Spanish, the instructor ensures knowledge transfer to other learners by addressing the needs of those who speak Ukrainian as their first language. This experience stems from a decade of teaching footwear specialization courses in partnership with Avecal, focusing on practical competencies and industry standards.
As Cano notes, the shoe sector offers substantial growth potential and consistently seeks new talent to sustain its operations and enable intergenerational transfer of skills. These training opportunities thus present meaningful pathways to employment and vocational advancement for individuals who have pursued studies in this field, reinforcing the sector’s future viability and resilience.