Program partner ensures job placement and housing

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Vocational Training Center Rebaudengo, located in Turin, Italy, launched a program to provide skills training for 15 young refugees who are living at Camp Fenoglio in Settimo Torinese, a commune in Turin. Run by the Red Cross, the camp houses young refugees and migrants ages 20 to 40.

The center, part of CNOS-FAP – Salesian National Center for Training and Job Placement Network, leads the training for the program. Partners Biella Industrial Union and the Italian Red Cross support the program and the participants. Biella Industrial Union reviews companies for hiring refugees after the training is finished. The Red Cross provides ongoing support for candidates, including monitoring the progress of the students’ activities and attendance as well as ensuring trainees have access to public transport passes to facilitate their travel to and from the course.

The course, which began in December 2023, provided 120 hours of vocational training in the mechanical-textile field. After training finished in January 2024, a supervisor with Biella Industrial Union ensured job placement in the city of Biella along with proper housing.

Agostino Albo, from the Salesian Vocational Training Center, said, “We did not record any absentees on the part of the students. There was a strong level of motivation and the will to complete the course.”

A Salesian added, “This is an important training program beyond how we are helping the young refugees. The training is focused on the mechanical-textile sector, which in recent years has been experiencing a production crisis due to the lack of manpower. This shortage is primarily linked to the excessive choosiness of companies, which require a specific skill-set. This training program aims to meet the needs of this sector while uplifting those who need training and employment.”

Last year, another course for a different employment sector was held for immigrants. All 14 students found employment when the course ended.

Salesian programs across Italy help youth who are unable to attend school and others who drop out to work at the few jobs available to them. A growing number of children work as laborers on farms and others have turned to the sex trade to help support their families. Those in poverty often live without adequate shelter, hot water, regular meals and health care.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – Italy – A Job Placement Course for Young Refugees at ITI – “Rebaudengo”

Salesian Missions – Italy

World Bank – Italy