ITALY: Unaccompanied foreign minors access network of support
Salesians for Social offers path to integration for youth
ITALY
(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been providing ongoing support services, including educational opportunities, for unaccompanied foreign minors in Italy. In 2024, more than 18,000 unaccompanied foreign minors were received in the country from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. The regions with the highest number of admissions were Sicily, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
The Salesian San Luigi Community in Gorizia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, has welcomed more than 1,000 youth in 10 years as part of the Salesians for Social network. It offers social support and vocational education aimed at reducing the risks linked to marginalization and school drop-out. The community offers a reception service from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. for youth identified by the authorities. Community placement provides Salesian residential educational services, dedicated to a path of integration and growth.
“The greatest need of youth arriving in our community is an authentic, concrete and customized welcome,” said Father Vincenzo Salerno, rector of the San Luigi Community. “We want to offer specific paths that guarantee an effective integration into school, work and social community, favoring autonomy and inclusion. Our goal is to support youth toward a growth that makes them autonomous and integrated in Italian society, with a focus on education, vocational training, and job placement by the age of 18.”
Every year, Salesians for Social reaches over 100,000 beneficiaries, offering protection and support through its network in more than 600 territories throughout Italy. There are 97 socio-educational services, including 33 family homes and 45 day centers, which represent a safe and familiar location for youth where they can access services.
The reception network has expanded with facilities dedicated to unaccompanied minors who have arrived in Italy, where they can receive food, clothes, assistance in contacting their families and attend Italian courses. These facilities also take in minors through the juvenile justice system, guaranteeing them a safe environment and educational support that is fundamental for their reintegration and personal development.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Salesian Missions – Italy
World Bank – Italy
