A S S O C I A Z I O N E L A S T R A D A
PROJECT DESCIPTION:
The no-profit Association "La Strada" has been working for fifteen years in the territory of the municipalities of Medicina and Castel Guelfo in the province of Bologna, in a social work especially to help children in conditions of social difficulties. Over the years, the work has expanded, involving young people and adults, especially immigrants.
The activities of the association begin with the daily work, each afternoon, of specific and personalised support open to boys and girls reported by the school and local social services. Afternoon activities include educational and entertainment moments with various themes that are being developed over the entire year. The association is also helping the learning process of Italian for immigrants (children, young people, adults) who have recently arrived in our country and we started an information point about job research or other bureaucratic issues. In addition, there are paths to access to work in a protected way for young people over 16 years of age who have abandoned the school. The association also carries out course about intercultural and peace education in schools. In collaboration with teachers of local schools, the Association has initiated educational projects for pupils from the public High School of Medicine and other schools in the area. The main topics discussed are: peace education with visits to Fossoli and Monte Sole, immigration and North-South relations of the world, foreign debt, equal and fair trade, Islam and Christianity in history and today. The association organizes periodicals Cineforum: through cinema, the aim is to make children think of important topics in the current social and cultural debate, such as bullying, racial hatred, genderdifference, dialogue between generations, the world of emotions for youth, love and friendship, sexuality, suffering, and death. The association also develops artistic workshops for young people: painting workshops (with different techniques) are currently underway, including those with one or more topics discussed together as a background, and a workshop for the joint construction of a video made by the local young people.
Excursions and trips are also offered, especially during the summer to know the territory
from the historical, cultural, geographical and artistic point of view.