On March 6, Gestamp Foundation, in collaboration with Empieza Por Educar, held the first edition of the Gestaskills Olympics, an event that brought together more than 100 students from Basic Vocational Training Courses at 10 educational centers to put into practice the skills they had developed during the course.

This initiative aims to strengthen fundamental skills for young people’s professional future, combining practical learning, teamwork, and experiences related to the workplace.    

During the event, students from basic vocational training programs in the professional fields of administrative services, electricity and electronics, and information technology and communications competed in different categories, including a knowledge test focused on the design and presentation of an event, and several technical tests related to their professional fields. In addition, other creativity and teamwork activities were carried out.

During this event, students had the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge they acquired during their Basic Vocational Training program through various tests and collaborative activities simulating a real-world environment.

The Olympics are part of the Gestaskills project, which is celebrating its third edition this year. This program is designed for Basic Vocational Training students and seeks to motivate them to continue their studies at higher levels, as well as to promote essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, creativity, decision-making, and teamwork.

This year, the Gestaskills program has been implemented in 10 educational centers in the Community of Madrid, including Fundación A La Par, which works with people with intellectual disabilities. (IES Francisco Tomás y Valiente, Rafaela Ybarra, Padre Piquer, Teide IV / Hease, Pinardi Pan Bendito, Salesianos Estrecho, La Salle Sagrado Corazón, Salesianos Atocha, Escuelas Pías Aluche, and Fundación A LA PAR.)

In all of them, students participated in workshops taught by volunteer professionals from Gestamp, who accompanied their learning process with the aim of reinforcing their motivation, enhancing their skills, and contributing to the reduction of school dropouts.

Regarding the event, Mónica Riberas López, director of Gestamp Foundation, said: “Gestaskills is a project that reflects our commitment to education and the future of young people. Seeing how more than 100 students applied the skills they had worked on for months has been one of the greatest rewards for our work. The Gestaskills Olympics have been a celebration of the effort, motivation, and potential of these young people.”

The various tests allowed the participants’ analytical skills, creative problem-solving, and teamwork to be evaluated. Regarding the experience, Beatriz Morilla, director of Empieza Por Educar, highlighted: “For Empieza por Educar, collaborating with the Gestamp Foundation on Gestaskills has meant bringing students real-life experiences that complement what they learn in the classroom. These Olympics have served to highlight their talent, creativity, and desire to excel, as well as the joint work between teachers, volunteers, and students.”

The 2026 edition of the Gestaskills Olympics reaffirmed the commitment of the Gestamp Foundation and Empieza Por Educar to promoting educational initiatives that connect school learning with experiential learning.