"You can't impose independence, it has to be built progressively through connection and empathy." These are the words of Nereida Barruezo, the project manager of Youth4All, an Open Cultural Center project that supports young migrant people in the rural region of Moianès, in Catalonia. Through individualised support, vocational training, accommodation and language classes, the project supports these young people find their feet in their new surroundings and equip them with skills, confidence and autonomy.

One of the biggest barriers to accessing tech education is financial, with intensive coding bootcamps often costing up to €8,000. This article discusses the growing movement in Barcelona to make digital skills more accessible with several initiatives emerging to provide free or subsidized training, including our MigraCode project, dedicated to teaching coding skills to migrants and refugees at no cost.

Imma Valls, Developer Advocate de Grafana Labs and a CodeWomen+ volunteer, was invited to talk to Ariadna Belver on her podcast “Lideratges” about the importance of empowering women+ in tech in a male-dominated sector and leading organisations and initiatives in Barcelona and beyond, like CodeWomen+ which provide opportunities for women+ in tech to find community and support.

The episode of El Balance marks World Social Justice Day with a conversation on how organisations can advance fairness and equity. Guest experts Javier González-Lliberós and Cristina Tabuenca from Open Cultural Center discuss the main challenges companies face, practical steps businesses of all sizes can take, and the growing influence of young people in driving social justice. They also highlight the tools and platforms that help raise awareness and inspire meaningful change.

Itineraris de vida: de la por a l’esperança shares the stories of six people who were forced to leave their home countries, portraying the fear, uncertainty, and injustice many migrants face. Through the experiences of Soly, Helena, Said, Ruth, Meriem, and Ossama, the book highlights both the difficulties of starting over and the resilience and hope that guide them forward. It also shows the crucial role of support organisations, which offer training, guidance, and emotional support to help newcomers rebuild their lives and integrate into their new communities.

The TRUE STORIES project, launched by the French Red Cross in collaboration with Louie Media and Open Cultural Centre, aims to transform the representation of migration on social media. Through podcasts, videos, and multimedia training, it empowers migrants and refugees to share their own stories. Six podcast episodes will be produced in multiple languages, alongside training workshops in Paris, Barcelona, and Polykastro.

Spain stands out in Europe for its more welcoming migration policies, recognising migrants as essential to its economic future. Amina Bibi’s journey reflects this approach: after arriving from Pakistan with a background in computer science, she joined a short training programme in Barcelona and soon secured a permanent role as a full-stack developer. Her story highlights how Spain’s inclusive policies and support programmes help skilled migrants integrate and contribute to the country’s growing tech sector.