The old Citroën in Manacor will become a training center and an inclusive restaurant of Aproscom
The foundation promotes a project that will combine training in restoration, job placement and a restaurant open to the public, while expanding housing and care services for people with intellectual disabilities
PalmThe old Citroën factory in Manacor, located on Carrer de les Parres, is getting closer and closer to starting a new chapter. The building, which for decades housed the dealership and workshop of the French brand, will be transformed into a training center for hospitality with a restaurant open to the public, driven by Aproscom, the foundation dedicated to the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the region.
The entity acquired the property four years ago with the intention of giving it a social use. Now, the project is beginning to take shape, although it still needs to secure the necessary funding to carry it out.
"It is an exciting project that we hope to make a reality soon, although it requires a significant investment," explains the manager of Aproscom, Toni Gaià. The future center will serve young people with intellectual disabilities to train in the field of hospitality and be able to enter the job market. The entity already develops vocational training programs in specialties such as cooking, cleaning, and gardening, with the aim of facilitating labor insertion both in ordinary companies and within the foundation itself.
New homes to promote autonomy
This project joins another of Aproscom's major commitments: independent supported housing. The entity is about to inaugurate a new building on Rafel Ferrer Massanet street that will have eight apartments for people with intellectual disabilities. "Eight people will live there independently, with the occasional support of an educator when needed," explains Gaià.
On the first two floors of the same building, various services will also be located, including a day center, an occupational service, and a job placement space. The works have involved an investment of over three million euros, of which more than two million have been financed by the Government of the Balearic Islands.
More than 1,100 people attended each year
Currently, Aproscom has a staff of 350 professionals and annually assists around 1,100 people with intellectual disabilities in the Manacor region.
The entity offers services throughout all life stages, from early care for children aged zero to six to programs for children and young people, vocational guidance, integration into ordinary companies, residences, and supported apartments to promote the autonomy of adults.
With these new facilities, Aproscom continues to expand its network of services with the aim of creating more training, employment, and housing opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and consolidating their inclusion within society.