The activities of the Corvetto branch of Sport for Change continue for the second year to back the minors at risk of early school living indicated by territorial networks and social services

THE SITUATION

Corvetto is a neighbourhood in the outskirts of Milan where many minors live in social unrest that often comes from unstable economic conditions that, in addition to complex family situations, don’t give the opportunity to these minors to be helped, to have someone listening to their troubles and to have parents guiding them the right way.

Moreover, many families are foreign and the linguistic barrier is difficult to overcome. In this context, it is essential to offer these minors the possibility to take part in well-structured out-of-school activities which can educate the kids and keep them away from situations that could lead to early school leaving or to potentially dangerous situations.

WHO TO INTERVENE

The sporting activity takes place twice a week with a coach, an educator and a psychologist for a total of four hours. The coach schedules and manages the sporting activity, organising the work on the pitch based on the skills of the kids involved; the educator works alongside the coach to manage the group dynamics and the relationship with the kids; the psychologist works as supervisor and gets to know the kids better through individual moments, offering listening and orientation sessions with the parents.

The final objective is to enhance the kids’ educational path through sports. In addition to sporting activities, this project offers artistic and recreational labs based on the interests and needs of the group, with the goal of making these kids more independent and giving them the opportunity to discover or rediscover specific skills. It is essential to work closely with territorial networks which operate in favour of minors throughout the whole activity: schools, the municipality, social services and other private organizations working on the territory for the kids.

BENEFICIARIES

Those who benefit from this project are 15 minors at risk of early of school leaving aged between 12 and 14. The kids have different nationalities and are mostly male, coming from families with economic difficulties and at risk of social exclusion. The organizations recommending these kids have great interest in enhancing the educational offers for the minors. Six out of the 15 kids taking part in this project, already participated last year.

TERRITORIAL NETWORK

The institutions that cooperate in the project are:

  • Martinengo Middle School
  • Cooperativa Martinengo
  • Social Service Municipio 5
  • Youth Community Centres
  • Social Service Municipio 4
  • Sporting Group ‘Diavoli Rossi’

The activities take place at the Medaglia Miracolosa Parish in Via Fratelli Rosselli, 6 – in Milan, which organises recreational religious activities addressed to all the young people of the neighbourhood.