Fighting the Curse of Unemployment

Since arriving in Lisboa we have seen a threefold increase in unemployed brothers and sisters coming to the Lisboa Centro de Emprego for help. Most expect us to have a long list of job opportunities where they can pick the best one and off to work they go. (You know the song....Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, it´s off to work we go!) In reality the main objective is to help each individual to understand their career goals and dreams, build a plan and then take action to achieve the goals. It includes lots of steps, most require very focused and intense training.  

Céu Cavaco Teaching Specialists from All Over Portugal


First, we have to learn about coaching those that are unemployed. December 10th - 11th saw 20 individuals from around Portugal come to our center on Gago Coutinho for a Coaching Workshop. One of the two trainers from Spain suffered a heart problem and missed the whole conference ending up in the hospital down the street from the seminiar. She recovered well and returned home to Valencia the next evening. Céu, our direct manager in Lisboa, kicked off the meeting and helped organize the event. She is extremely talented, juggles many priorities and wears many hats.  

Bispo Sá Barros teaching the group

 Bispo Sá Barros is a former pilot for a large airline and has used his retirement to go back to law school plus help at the employment center....in addition to many other responsibilities. He brings great wisdom and knowledge to the center. Patricia at his right is over the Jovems-Adultos Center next door and works with the young single adults from 18-30. She is multi lingual and as bright a leader as you will find anywhere.


Céu, Paula and Eileen planning the Coaching Workshop

   Eileen works directly with Céu Cavaco and on Wednesdays, Paula Perreira rounds out the team. Paula is creating a mobile version of the employment center that we will be taking to each region. The first will be in Setúbal the first week in January. Eileen worked directly with Céu in planning the physical aspects of the coaching seminar. It turned out to be a huge success.

Getting the details on skills and experience

The real work takes place with the individual. Here, in our Centro de Recursos de Emprego (CRE) we teach basic principles once we have established a career path with the individual. Here Kent is working with a wonderful man from Romania that has been in Portugal for some time and just lost his job. The training has seen great progress already, including having this energetic fellow taking a night class in Portuguese 4 nights a week to make him more marketable. All in all, most days at the center have serious unemployed individuals in training for the entire time we are there. At times they bring their children along and Eileen turns into a pre-school teacher!