ITALY: Salesians combat school dropout rates with new projects
2,000 youth and 160 educators are involved in educational projects
ITALY
(MissionNewswire) The Salesians for Social Association network in Italy has launched a series of educational projects throughout the country, particularly in areas where there are many youth at-risk. The aim is to ensure that youth stay in school and gain the education they need. Italy is among the European countries where educational poverty is strongest, particularly in the south, where the school dropout rate exceeds 14%.
To date, Salesian projects are impacting 2,000 youth and involve 160 educators distributed in the regions of Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Lazio, Campania, Puglia, Calabria and Sicily.
“Educational poverty is no longer an emergency, but a serious and structural phenomenon in Italian society, which involves over a million children and compromises the growth of the young generations,” said Father Francesco Preite, national president of Salesians for Social Association. “Faced with this reality, it is essential to refinance the national fund to combat educational poverty and adopt systematic policies that strengthen educational and social services to support minors and young people in difficulty.”
Fr. Preite added, “Every day, an army of educators, social workers and psychologists, together with families and schools, works to create an educational environment based on trust, hospitality and personal accompaniment. Following the Don Bosco Preventive System, we promote knowledge and skills, helping children and young people to pursue their aspirations and build a better future through study, creativity and the development of their skills.”
Salesian commitment to education involves concrete actions such as the program “School neighbors: territories and schools together to combat school dropout”, which offers activities developed with a flexible teaching model that is adaptable to the various school contexts and based on the co-design and co-programming of teachers and educators.
There are also numerous projects at the local level. In the Giostra district of Messina, Salesians for Social Association has launched the “An educating Giostra” project aimed at 600 youth between the ages of 6-17. The initiative is aimed at minors, families and the community.
The “Scuola Libera Tutti!” project in Venaria Reale (Turin), Macerata, Rome, Cisternino (Brindisi) and Palermo, prevents school dropout and improves the well-being of students. This project offers study support activities and recreation for children during their free time.
In Pedara and Viagrande, in the province of Catania, the “Scuola Casa Commune” project promotes socio-educational services and recreational and cultural activities. Nearly 300 children between the ages of 5-10 have been impacted. The project helps families through the support of a network of parents, teachers and educational figures.
Salesians in Italy will continue to work toward ensuring that youth have access to the educational supports need to keep them in school to gain the education they need to gain self-sufficiency.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Salesian Missions – Italy
World Bank – Italy
