This IKEA store in Madrid is like no other
Furniture giant provides on-the-job training for refugees, with potential employment afterwards.
Maria from Ukraine worked in a bank before the war began in her country. An IKEA training program in Spain is helping her learn new skills.
© UNHCR/Bruno Galan Ruiz
MADRID, Spain - For more than five weeks, selected refugees have had the chance to learn all aspects of working for multinational furniture company IKEA in the Spanish capital, Madrid.
The unique training programme gives refugees like Ruba, an architect from Syria, and Maria a former bank employee from Ukraine, hands on training at the store, which sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories.
Once they complete the work experience programme, participants will be able to apply for jobs with IKEA as a first step towards integrating into the Spanish workforce.