ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

The activity takes place at La Strada Volunteer Association, active in the municipalities of Medicina and Castel Guelfo (Bologna), with solid experience in promoting social inclusion and preventing youth hardship—particularly among minors and young people with a migrant background or in vulnerable situations.

The daily activities, mainly held in the afternoons, focus on personalized academic support, socio-educational animation, literacy promotion, and intercultural education. The children and young people involved are referred by schools or local social services and participate in group or individual activities designed to strengthen social, linguistic, and relational skills, as well as to support their integration into the local community.

International ESC volunteers will support the educational staff and local volunteers in the following activities:

• Afternoon school support (individual or small group)

• Creative workshops and recreational activities (art, cinema, educational games, excursions)

• Intercultural activities in schools (workshops on peace, civic education, and human rights)

• Linguistic and relational support for newly arrived migrant children and adults

• Participation in summer activities and summer camps

• Collaboration in initiatives linked to job inclusion for NEET youth

Volunteers will receive initial and ongoing training on the association’s educational approach, which is individualized, non-formal, and intercultural. The context of Medicina, marked by challenges related to integration, offers volunteers and local youth a meaningful opportunity for social impact, personal growth, and intercultural exchange.

The activity contributes to strengthening the values of the European Solidarity Corps, particularly the promotion of an inclusive and fair society attentive to the needs of local communities through active participation and youth empowerment.

The association periodically organizes a Film Forum (Cineforum). Through cinema, the goal is to encourage young people to reflect on important topics in today’s social and cultural debate, such as bullying, racial hatred, gender differences, intergenerational dialogue, the world of emotions for young people, love and friendship, sexuality, suffering, and death. The association also runs art workshops for young people: currently, there are painting workshops using various techniques, including some where one or more topics are discussed collectively, and a group video-making workshop involving local youth. Excursions and trips are also offered, especially during the summer, to explore the territory from historical, cultural, geographical, and artistic perspectives.

All these activities promote solidarity among people from different cultural backgrounds living in the Medicina area. It is essential that these initiatives foster respect for diverse cultures and traditions, aiming to “build a community based on shared responsibility and mutual support.” The activities align with the principles and mission of the ESC, namely the “promotion of a just society […] where pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity, and equality prevail.”

The involvement of international volunteers will bring the community closer to the values at the heart of the European Union, offering new perspectives and opportunities to open up and enrich themselves through encounters with new cultures. At the same time, young volunteers will have the chance to contribute to a community different from their own, experiencing firsthand what European citizenship means in a context that welcomes youth from diverse backgrounds.