Nine foundations to promote the autonomy and inclusion of young migrants in full compliance with the respect of children’s rights
An initiative on the Italian territory dedicated to unaccompanied foreign minors, for their reception and integration.
Fondazione Cariplo, Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CON IL SUD, Enel Cuore, Fondazione CRT-Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo, Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Fondazione Peppino Vismara joined their efforts in the initiative Never Alone, for a possible tomorrow to promote the autonomy and inclusion of young migrants and to create a new culture of reception.
At the centre of this collaboration there is a will to promote innovative solutions for the reception, integration and accompanying to adulthood of children form abroad and to help create greater awareness on this issue, both among the public opinion and the National and European institutions.
The context
When we say unaccompanied foreign minors we mean minors who are in Italy alone, without assistance and representation by parents or other adults legally responsible for them.
According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs data, the unaccompanied foreign minors in Italy at the end of 2011 were 6,000; however as at 30th June 2017 the number was three times as much. They come mostly from Gambia, Egypt, Guinea, Albania, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. The hosted minors, in absolute prevalence of male gender, are between the age of 15 and 17[1] and have specific needs. In addition to the above, there are those children who are untraceable: at least 10,000 children and teens disappeared after their arrival in Europe, at risk of mistreatment, sexual abuse or exploitation for labour purposes by criminal networks.
The Italian situation is part of a European complex and changing background: the development of effective inclusive pathways for unaccompanied foreign minors is a big challenge that goes beyond national borders and requires Europe-wide responses.
Never Alone, for a possible tomorrow is part of the European programme EPIM – European Programme on Integration and Migration, a joint initiative undertaken by several European foundations aiming at promoting projects with a shared target in Italy, Greece, Germany and Belgium, which has mobilized resources for over € 6 million. The results are collected, validated and disseminated through an active monitoring system at National and European level that allows the identification of the implemented best practices and that promotes their on-line availability for the benefit of all Countries and Nations committed in the reception of young foreigners.
[1] Ministry of Labour and Social Policy data (to learn more: http://bit.ly/2fCDcbv)