(ANS - Rome) - From October 2014 to October 2015, the Don Bosco Boys Town Centre for Minors in Rome, in collaboration with the Region of Lazio, ran an emergency project for minors and young people in situations of poverty, offering them concrete opportunities to take their place in society. Here is the report on this experience.

by Roberto Alessandrini

"For over 20 years the Don Bosco Boys Town Centre has been welcoming young people who are out of school, at risk of delinquency or subject of penal measures as an alternative to prison. We have come to realize, in recent times, (...) that the number of requests coming to a facility like ours, has increased more and more. We are talking about situations of economic poverty, and social and family problems" says Alessandro Iannini, psychologist and coordinator of the “let them fly again” project run by Boys Town.

"Following a number of experiments we took in between eighty and a hundred young people from different countries, who could not be included in other training courses. After listening to their needs, we directed them towards courses offered by the Salesian Centre that were better adapted to their needs. We are concerned mainly with young people that no one has managed to care for. We try, with some difficulty, to understand the reasons that caused the multiple failures in the young person’s life or their difficulties in school."

The methodology of the project involves networking with other social and business agencies in the area, and this has allowed young people to receive certificates that enable them to proceed, if they wish, to a higher educational level.

"The project continued until October 2015. More than 90% of the young people finished the course. From a human standpoint, we were lucky enough to see the joy and serenity in their eyes at their achievement. They often return to visit us for they see us as a point of stability in their lives.  We also came to see that, with our support, some young people have been able to find a job" says Iannini.

Published 17/11/2015