Pineda, ambassador of Fundación Adecco and the first European graduate with Down syndrome, stars—together with four other people with trisomy 21—in an awareness campaign aimed at highlighting the inequality that people with Down syndrome still face and encouraging reflection among society and companies in order to promote their employment. The campaign can be viewed at the following link: diamundialsindromedown.org

Boomerang TV is one of the companies supporting this social cause which, in addition to delivering an awareness message, will back the Cantera de Talentos initiative, a training and social meeting school aimed at improving the employability of people with Down syndrome.

Francisco Mesonero, CEO of Fundación Adecco, has stated that “we are very grateful to the partner companies for supporting this social challenge, which is so important for people with intellectual disabilities, specifically those with Down syndrome. In the 21st century, their employment cannot be considered a privilege or a philanthropic action, but rather a fundamental right whose exercise benefits society as a whole. The voice of Pablo Pineda and the other four protagonists becomes a powerful platform through which we hope to change perceptions and attitudes.”

Francisco Fernández, Human Resources Director at Boomerang TV, says he is “very pleased that our company has made a firm commitment to Fundación Adecco’s #EmploymentForAll project in order to raise awareness and make society conscious of the importance of the labor inclusion of people with Down Syndrome"

Madrid, March 18, 2022.- On Monday, March 21, World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated, a context in which Boomerang TV has joined Fundación Adecco’s awareness campaign with the aim of promoting employment for people with trisomy 21. The date of World Down Syndrome Day was chosen because it falls on the 21st day of the third month, symbolizing the trisomy of chromosome 21 that causes Down syndrome.

This initiative is part of Fundación Adecco’s social mission #EmploymentForAll and aligns with the 2030 Agenda, addressing four Sustainable Development Goals: no poverty, reduced inequalities, gender equality, and decent work and economic growth.

Francisco Mesonero, CEO of Fundación Adecco, has stated that “we are very grateful to the partner companies for supporting this challenge, which is so important for people with intellectual disabilities, specifically those with Down syndrome. In the 21st century, their employment cannot be considered a privilege or a philanthropic action, but rather a fundamental right whose exercise benefits society as a whole. The voice of Pablo Pineda and the other four protagonists becomes a powerful platform through which we hope to change perceptions and attitudes.”

This support from Boomerang TV is part of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy and reflects its commitment to equal opportunities for people with disabilities, as only 7% of people with Down syndrome are currently employed. Francisco Fernández, Human Resources Director at Boomerang TV, says he is “very pleased that our company has made a firm commitment to Fundación Adecco’s #EmploymentForAll project in order to raise awareness and make society conscious of the importance of the labor inclusion of people with Down syndrome.”

Down syndrome is a condition caused by the presence of extra genetic material on chromosome 21, resulting in intellectual disability, among other characteristics. It is estimated that of the 35,000 people with Down syndrome living in Spain, 23,000 are of working age, and only 7% of them are employed.

“I believe it is a major mistake to overlook the talent of people with Down syndrome, as we can bring great value to companies by strengthening skills such as empathy, emotional expression, and optimism. That is where the focus should be, not on intellectual disability, as it does not define or determine our professional value,” says Pablo Pineda, ambassador of Fundación Adecco and the first European graduate with Down syndrome.

Pineda, who has been working as an ambassador for Fundación Adecco since 2009 with the aim of paving the way toward employment for people with disabilities, urges companies through this message to “overcome the fear of the unknown” and provide more opportunities to people with Down syndrome. Together with Natalia, Pablo, Marieta, and Álex—four other individuals with trisomy 21 of different ages—he has delivered a message defending that people with Down syndrome also want to study, work, and be independent.

The campaign can be viewed at the following link: diamundialsindromedown.org

Boomerang TV has become one of the companies supporting this awareness campaign, which, in addition to Pablo Pineda’s message, will also support the Cantera de Talentos initiative—a training and social meeting school aimed at promoting employment for people with intellectual disabilities through the development of key skills.

Participants will attend workshops, group dynamics, and activities (social, educational, training, and pre-employment) over the course of a year. These are designed by professionals and experts in social and labor inclusion from Fundación Adecco, with the involvement of volunteers from partner companies.