150 projects against educational poverty
There are 150 ongoing experiences combating educational poverty and social marginalization waiting to be discovered. They tell the story of the same number of projects gathered through the Germoliazioni initiative, the campaign promoted by Acri and Assifero with nearly 200 associated foundations, on the occasion of the thirteenth European Foundation Day , scheduled for October 1, 2025. The projects address educational poverty from the earliest years of life, for example, with services and activities in nursery schools. They also aim to activate young NEETs through training and orientation programs. There is no shortage of initiatives promoted and managed by those under 30, such as community radio stations, cultural festivals, creative workshops, and self-managed spaces for young people. There are also programs that facilitate access to employment and youth entrepreneurship, as well as initiatives that introduce forms of direct consultation with young people, including the creation of youth commissions or "young advisory boards."
All the projects in question are featured on the website www.germogliazioni.it, a comprehensive resource accompanying the October 1st celebration, which is also accompanied by a survey conducted by SWG for Acri. These are quite impressive numbers, which capture the needs of young people and point to a path for using the significant resources that foundations distribute each year to generate new social value. These numbers are the subject of the upcoming October issue of the magazine Filantropi d'Italia.
The SWG research highlights that 57% of Italians believe the city they live in doesn't offer adequate spaces and opportunities for young people , nor places that facilitate meeting new and interesting people (the percentage rises to 69% for residents of medium-sized cities). Then there's the issue of accessibility: where opportunities do exist, they're either too expensive (31%) or difficult to access (30%). Furthermore, for the majority of Italians, offering children and young people more opportunities for growth and socialization would reduce the risk of social marginalization, foster positive relationships, and nurture talent.
Going into even more detail about the study, it emerges that nearly half of Italians say they are dissatisfied with the quality and quantity of their free time. Study and workloads are the main barriers to fully dedicating time to themselves, followed by family obligations. Concerts, exhibitions, and sports are the most sought-after activities, yet the local offerings only fully satisfy a portion of those interested.
The gap in the availability of services that meet expectations is particularly evident in small and medium-sized municipalities (under 100,000 inhabitants) and in southern Italy, where the services offered are generally negatively assessed. Italians recognize that providing more opportunities for young people would reduce the risk of social marginalization, foster positive relationships, and develop talent, with beneficial effects on the entire community.
For Italians, free time is primarily an opportunity to relax and pursue their passions; young people share this view but place greater emphasis on its social value, seeing it as a space to cultivate meaningful relationships. This indicates that, despite their similar views, the younger generations place greater importance on the relational aspect. The survey finds that nearly half of Italians are dissatisfied with the quality (49%, 39% of 16-25 year-olds) and quantity of their free time (54%, 50% of 16-25 year-olds). But beyond the way they spend their free time, a concern is the actual correspondence between Italians' desires and passions and what's available in their local area: 59% say they're unable to do what they'd like (51% of 16-25 year-olds) and 52% are dissatisfied with the variety of stimuli and opportunities available to them. This gap between desire and real opportunities also affects proactive attitudes towards free time: 65% of Italians are unable to fill their free time as they would like, that is, by dedicating themselves to the activities they prefer, but limit themselves to passively accessing proposed solutions (63% of 16-25 year-olds).
The main causes of lack of free time are work and study burdens (44% overall, 53% among young people), in addition to family obligations, which are more burdensome for adults. Young people also report organizational difficulties and digital distractions: a sign that time management and the use of technology significantly impact the quality of free time. Italians attribute the opportunity gap primarily to economic (83%) and regional (78%) factors, but also to their relationships and family networks (77%). For young people, the local context and social circle are particularly important: if the environment lacks stimulation or space, the opportunity for meaningful experiences is drastically reduced.
Opening remarks: Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna – Radioimmaginaria, from the Acri Press Office
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