The Integration Challenge

A meeting was held on March 27 to present the activities of Project  Immigrant World - New Local Sensors promoted by the Prefecture of Aquila, financed by the EIF Fund and implemented by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale with the LeonardoandNuovi orizzonti Socialicooperatives and the Fraterna TAU Onlus association.

 

 

The event was held at the Mensa di Celestino that was packed with students, professors and representatives from associations, the Prefecture, the Town Hall and the Province of L'Aquila.  

The meeting was opened by Maria Cristina Di Stefano, Deputy Prefect of Acquila: “This project was strenuously pursued by the Prefect to provide concrete integration opportunities for immigrants and true collaboration between public and private subjects,” she explained. “Thus, a public call lead to “Immigrant World.” After a scrupulous and careful selection, we decided to assign the task to the Fondazione Mondo Digitale that is already locally active and the best suited to implement the project.”

 

“The presence of immigrants on our territory is a matter of fact and all institutions must activate projects like this one to ensure a peaceful cohabitation, integration and a perfect work equilibrium,” added Luigi D’Eramo, Aquila Councillor for Social Policy.

 

The Fondazione Mondo Digitale began its activities in the region right after the 2009 earthquake with its ICT Appeal for Abruzzi. Subsequently, the FMD began to collaborate with the Istituto comprensivo San Demetrio Ne’ Vestini to promote the A2/A4 Family Format School Project. The event was attended by an entire class from the school, along with their professor and Headmaster Lucia Di Giulio, who underlined how integration can also be reached through reconstruction. Together with two students – Eduart (12) and Marcu (13) – the headmaster illustrated the activities underway at the school.

 

Two other schools from Aquila were present: Ipsia Leonardo Da Vinci and Itis Amedeo di Savoia Duca d’Aosta.

 

“Thanks to this new project the challenge of integration can be fueled by you students: at school, in your families and in the community,” explains Mirta Michilli, Director General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale. “You are the prime promoters of integration and shared culture. Understanding the needs of immigrants, local requirements and providing concrete answers will be our primary objective.”

 

Social Policy Councillor for Aquila Stefania Pezzopane briefly illustrated the current situation in the area of Aquila: “We are now facing new issues, such as that of workers that are brought here without any safety system or network. We must immediately create jobs for our youth, eradicate prejudice, work with the institutions and coordinate with those subjects who work daily with the most dramatic issues and the weakest categories.”

 

Deputy Prefect Maria Assunta Rosa from the Department of Immigrant Civil Liberties, Ministry of the Interior concluded the presentation: “The project perfectly responds to our needs: assistance for work and housing, help with documents, providing for new comers and helping them integrate. Integration is a two-way process that requires activities both for the immigrants, who are a resource for our country, and for Italian citizens.

 

Paolo Giorgi, Prior of the TAU Onlus Fraternal Association, explained that the Mensa di Celestino was chosen to hold the event and underline its importance, while Quirino Salomone, Spiritual Father of the Onlus, and Giovanna Rodorigo, cultural mediator at the Leonardo Social Cooperative, illustrated the project milestones and activities.

 

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