We spoke with Juan Canepa and Martín Laurenzana, two members of the Casaclub Foundation who joined Tecpetrol just over three months ago in the Buenos Aires, Argentina offices.

Talent doesn’t come with labels, and everyone’s got that spark inside—sometimes it just needs the right breeze to fan the flames or a little nudge to reignite it when it flickers. In a world that tends to rush ahead without looking back, it’s more important than ever to build bridges and stretch out a hand to those who, for whatever reason—their circumstances, their background, or just plain bad luck—have been left behind. That’s where we step in, doing our part to help create a fairer, more inclusive society.

In this same spirit, we’re excited to share the stories of Juan Canepa and Martín Laurenzana, two new Office Assistants who joined Tecpetrol this past June in transitional roles. Juan and Martín are part of Casaclub, a foundation dedicated to creating opportunities for people with mental illnesses—whether it's through socializing, education, recreation, or skill-building.

They met at Casaclub about a year ago, and through community service, they formed a friendship that is fueled as much by weekly soccer games as it is by their duties at the company.

“Since I started, every day feels like a new challenge. Getting up, coming to work, and realizing I’m capable of handling what’s expected of me—it makes me feel really good,” shares Juan. Martín adds, “For me, socializing has always been tough. So, learning how to talk to a supervisor and have regular conversations with the people around me has been a really valuable experience.”

Both Juan and Martín are responsible for keeping the office stocked with supplies. “We’re in charge of finding yerba mate, milk, coffee capsules—basically everything needed to keep the office running smoothly,” Martín explains. Like with anything new, though, it took some time to get the hang of things. “At first, it was a bit overwhelming because there were so many floors and products to keep track of. I admit, I got a little distracted,” Juan says with a smile. “But Verónica Rodríguez from the wait staff really helped us out. She simplified our daily tasks, and now we handle replenishment more efficiently and on time.”

“Here, I’ve learned to be patient—something I always struggled with but is really important at work,” Juan says proudly. “You have to realize that not everything depends on you alone.” And he adds that, “I also feel like I’ve grown as a person, more mature.” Martín chimes in: “In these three months, I’ve found my footing, met a lot of people, and slowly started to gain confidence and relax more. Now, I can honestly say I feel really comfortable here.”

Gratitude and hope—that’s what Martín and Juan radiate when they talk about their journey with the company. “Our lives were so different before. When I joined Casaclub, I felt like I finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel, because they saw potential in us,” Juan admits. Martín adds, “The foundation has helped me more than I can put into words. Someone once said to me, ‘Do you realize how much you have to give?’ You don’t always say those things to yourself, you need someone else to give you that push.”