Project The OpenSpace project Spaces of active participation of the educational community Educational poverty Povertà alimentare Poverty Youth poverty Partner Albero della Vita Foundation, Arteteca/Inward, Bayty Batyk Associazione, Bocconi University, Cittadinanzattiva Onlus, CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee), Euroform Association, Federgat (Group Theatre Federation), Fondazione Mondo Digitale (FMD), Giovanni Paolo II Foundation, Junior Achievement Donor Con i Bambini Foundation Stakeholders Local municipalities, Lower secondary schools, Upper secondary schools Objective of the project Our goal is to address educational poverty through inclusive and quality education for children and adolescents belonging to marginalized and socially excluded families. Abstract of the project The project aims at promoting the creation of communities where children, parents, teachers, school managers, educators, institutions, no profit associations and private actors work together to prevent and address educational poverty. The project includes activities to improve children’s soft skills and expertises in various fields including robotics, coding, theatre; to raise awareness and reduce early school leaving; to support parents through parenting programs; to strengthen private and non-private services targeting children and families; and to improve and renovate school spaces. Context analysis Educational poverty is a widespread and multidimensional problem that affects an increasing number of children, adolescents and youth. In Italy, over 1 million children between the ages of 3 and 18 live in absolute poverty, while the school leaving rate in 2016 reached 13.8%. Educational poverty limits the opportunities that children and adolescents must enjoy in order to have a complete and adequate psycho-physical growth and to acquire the skills and competencies essential for their educational and working future. Educational poverty generally manifests itself in contexts characterized by poor economic development, social exclusion and degradation and further exacerbates the cycle of poverty where children are trapped. Milan, MI, Italia Bari, BA, Italia Palermo, PA, Italia Reggio Calabria, RC, Italia The project is implemented in 4 cities including Milan, Palermo, Bari and Reggio Calabria. Implementation Period 01/08/2018 - 31/07/2022 Beneficiaries Direct 4.000 lower and upper secondary school students involved in curricular and anti drop-out courses (11-16 years old) 300 teachers involved in training courses 1.600 adults involved 3.000 adults have access to the service desk in the schools Indirect 7.000 lower secondary school students benefit indirectly from the activities in the schools 3.000 secondary school students indirectly involved in activities against the drop out in the schools 10.000 adults benefit from the project activities 100,000 citizens reached by information and awareness-raising activities Project Strategy Activities School laboratories/ trainings Job counseling Training of community coaches Renovation of school buildings and public spaces School help desks for parents Communication and advocacy Impact evaluation Outputs Architectural renovations of school spaces Set up of innovation gym (fablab, coding lab, media art lab, robotic lab) Social theatre workshops for students After-school programs for students Smartbox with cultural, social and work offers of each reference area, for families and students Itinerant information desks for the educational community Workshops for preventing and reducing early school leaving (empowerment, orientation and self-entrepreneurship) Training courses for parents and teachers Outcomes School drop-out rate and early school leaving will be reduced Children skills will be improved Educational stakeholders’ network will be expanded and integrated Services inside and outside schools will be created/strengthened Links Do you want to know more projects on poverty? / View website Previous Next