Ri-generazioni: inclusion and education in the outskirts
The project responds to educational and social challenges faced by young people in disadvantaged areas of Rome, Naples and Milan.
Project goals
The initiative aims to provide a comprehensive and multifaceted response to situations involving young people in distress, incorporating educational, therapeutic, training and environmental factors.
The main objectives include:
- prevention and containment of child distress by providing safe, educational and rehabilitative environments
- establishment and/or reinforcement of three juvenile integration centres for young people experiencing social and/or mental distress, including those subject to criminal or civil measures
- development of personal growth projects, including therapeutic, educational and rehabilitative measures aimed at restoring a child's emotional, cognitive and social skills (e.g. social, school and work rehabilitation).
- promotion of active citizenship and social responsibility through artistic, environmental and technical workshops
- creation of a replicable experimental model, able to guide public policies and intervention strategies for vulnerable children
- redevelopment of educational facilities through environmental sustainability works.
The initiative also provides for the production and dissemination of multimedia content by the proposing Bodies and the beneficiary children, as well as university-level research by the staff working in the proposing Bodies. One of the aims is to create a model for the project that can be adapted and made sustainable in other similar urban contexts.
The project areas and planned activities
The project is located in the eastern outskirts of the Metropolitan City of Rome, particularly in Municipalities VI and VII and the Castelli Romani area. It is situated within a complex context marked by urban degradation, social exclusion and educational poverty. The Fonte di Ismaele association has been operating here for many years, and has a deep understanding of the area.
The activities in this area involve around 200 children and young people from vulnerable families, including immigrants and the Roma community. They are at risk of dropping out of school, experiencing psychological distress and social exclusion. There is also an experimental community of 12 children and young people (five of whom are subject to criminal proceedings). The goal is to restore beauty, dignity and possibilities for the future, including through care giving, art and nature.
The Fonte di Ismaele Volunteer Organisation, was founded in 2021 within the Institute of Solidarity Medicine's working group for maternal and child health. Its aim is to recognise the rights of children in situations of extreme social marginalisation
In Rome, it plans to establish a residential socio-educational community providing high-intensity care for children aged 14 to 16, with the aim of preventing and addressing situations of deep distress at an early stage. A holistic, multidisciplinary approach will be taken, involving social, health and educational services in a network that promotes recovery, legal compliance and awareness of vulnerabilities.
Alongside the community, educational workshops will be set up in the form of a day centre for children aged 7 and above, including:
- Arte Tarsia. Mosaic art workshops for creating mosaics at metro C stations in the area
- Verde Urbano. Gardening workshops to create sensory gardens in abandoned green areas at metro C stations in the area
- Investigation and Training Areas. Creative and training opportunities in areas such as video production and editing, audiovisual content production, photography, graphic design and creative writing
- Energy Course: Laboratory for training on alternative energy and the use of photovoltaic solar panels.
Each course involves implementing a personal practical project, which is then continuously monitored by teachers to improve skills and stimulate autonomy.
On the other hand, energy efficiency measures will concern the headquarters, which houses both a socio-educational community requiring high-intensity care and the Fonte di Ismaele ODV day centre's laboratory activities. The planned measures include installing photovoltaic systems to produce clean energy for self-consumption, supporting training activities on renewable energies, and updating lighting systems with low-consumption LED technology.
The project was set up in the heart of the Rione Sanità, one of the city's most densely populated districts with a strong youth presence. It supports young people at risk of dropping out of school by offering them concrete opportunities for growth and positive, healthy alternatives to illegal activities. One hundred children are involved, many of whom come from families experiencing economic hardship and educational disadvantage. The focus of the actions is on training and workshops that aim to rebuild the bond between young people and the community, thereby strengthening trust and participation.
Founded in 2014, the San Gennaro Community Foundation was established to address local needs and promote social cohesion. It will coordinate a series of customised Individualised Educational Projects (PEIs) in Naples for each child involved, tailored to their individual needs and potential. The courses will include listening activities, social education, and learning in both individual and group settings. There will also be artistic and sports workshops, as well as training guidance and tutoring.
Five six-month work placement courses will also be set up in agreement with social services and approved by juvenile judges. These courses will provide a monthly salary of €600 to encourage personal responsibility and prevent young people from seeking other illegal sources of income.
Community educators will play a central role. These are professionals who can operate in informal settings, identify situations of exclusion, and strengthen civil networks to support children and young people.
Energy efficiency measures will focus on the spaces used for the San Gennaro Community Foundation’s educational and reception activities. The aim is to make areas used for laboratories, as well as spaces for listening to and supporting young people, more sustainable and usable. Planned measures include updating lighting systems with low-energy LED technology and establishing a Renewable and Solidarity Energy Community.
There are strong social inequalities, urban degradation and housing instability in the western outskirts of Milan, between San Siro and Lampugnano. The project involves around 100 adolescents and includes a day centre, a neuropsychiatric residential facility, and local laboratories.
In addition to cultural and digital deprivation, there has been an increase in mental distress among children and young people, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The activities therefore aim to create welcoming and supportive spaces, encouraging integration and preventing anti-social behaviour.
Founded in 1998 in the Como and Cremona areas, the Varietà Social Cooperative Society has, over the years, created psychiatric communities and multiple services in response to emerging needs. In Milan, it will oversee the management and improvement of a semi-residential facility (day centre) and a residential community for adolescents experiencing social exclusion. Many of these adolescents are in the so-called 'grey area', lacking formal support networks yet facing vulnerability. The project plan is divided into four key phases:
- reception and processing of the aid application
- assessment and redirection of individual abilities
- support for school obligations
- support for autonomy and preparation for work.
The young people will follow personal educational and rehabilitative programmes involving educational, emotional, play and expressive activities, as well as work-guidance tasks. Each child will be accompanied by a tutor, who will work with the family and the sending body to develop a personal plan based on their interests and potential.
Energy efficiency measures will be carried out on both structures (the day centre and the community centre), contributing to the project's environmental sustainability.
Finally, activities open to the community will be organised for young people and families in the area. These will include workshops, sports events and training days to promote a culture of care and participation.
The energy efficiency measures will also apply to the building managed by the Varietà social cooperative, which houses a day centre on the ground floor and a community of child neuropsychiatrists on the upper floor. The aim is to optimise energy consumption across the entire building and improve its overall performance. The plans include installing a photovoltaic system to power the structure's basic functions autonomously and take the first steps towards establishing a Renewable and Solidarity Energy Community. They also include installing a cooling system and updating lighting systems to use low-consumption LED technology.
Results and beneficiaries
At the end of the initiative,
- around 400 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 are expected to have benefited
The indirect beneficiaries include families, operators, schools, public bodies and citizens in the areas involved in urban redevelopment processes. The project also aims to generate lasting, positive impacts by improving the quality of life for children and contributing to the creation of stronger, more inclusive educational communities.
Project duration
Synergy with national policies and contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
"Ri-generazioni" has been developed in line with the guidelines and strategic priorities of various national programmes and policies that aim to combat educational poverty, promote the social inclusion of children, and encourage the sustainable development of urban outskirts. In particular, the project is complementary to:
- The National Plan for Combating Child Educational Poverty
- The National Plan for the prevention and combating of early school leaving
- The National Action Plan for Children and Adolescents
- National policies on ecological transition and energy redevelopment
- Local socio-health zone policies and plans implemented by Health Agencies.
In addition, the initiative contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda. In particular: Goal 3, Health and Wellbeing, Goal 4, Quality education, Goal 7, Clean and accessible energy, Goal 10, Reduce inequalities, Goal 11, Sustainable cities and communities and Goal 12, Responsible consumption and production.
