A commercial space that has been in Chamartín since 1974 will be a study center for young people at risk of social exclusion, as well as the ideal place to taste a good wine after work or fill the shopping cart with excellent quality raw materials. This was announced on Monday, October 14, by José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, when he attended the inauguration of the new Mercado Escuela San Cristóbal, a pioneer in its category both in Spain and in the rest of Europe.
An initiative for the social and labor inclusion of young people
The market aims to expand the training and leisure offers in Madrid Nuevo Norte, one of the most ambitious urban projects of Almeida’s candidacy.It will host 240 students per year in six groups of 40 people each, who will take 416 hours of courses per year with two-month internships.
The courses are designed so that young people can find a job related to the world of food at the end of their studies. They range from jobs in the food hall (greengrocer, greengrocer, bakery, delicatessen, cafeteria and wine cellar) to jobs in the kitchen.
According to Martínez-Almeida, the market stands out for combining modernity and tradition in an enclave that will be the great financial district of Madrid. Associations, large companies and small traders have promoted this project developed mainly by Cesal: an international cooperation and social action NGO that helps families at risk of poverty in 14 countries around the world.
The City Council has collaborated in the project with an investment of 1.7 million euros, a figure that demonstrates the interest of the council in commercial areas of this category. In total, the capital has 45 municipal markets, making it the city with the most of its kind in Europe.