“During children’s shows I always saw the same faces, the same families belonging to the same social class, and my thoughts were directed to all the others deprived of the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of culture “he remembers Ivan Esposito who, with twenty years of experience in theatrical activities for children, he conceived the project Cultural entrustment precisely to offer the opportunity a children who normally do not have the habit or the opportunity to go to the theater, cinema, museums or educational farmsto discover the cultural and artistic heritage of their city.
Who are the “foster families”
Accompanying them are, in fact, the “foster families”, ie families, couples without children and singleswho propose to make them live a cultural experience, supported by a family member or guardian of the child.
“We have had proof that the bond of friendship that is created between “foster family” and “foster family” is much more effective than the intervention of the social worker or the educational institution which could make cultural activity a duty. We, on the other hand, want to make these moments become a habit built on the pleasure of sharing “says Esposito, explaining that the children involved, between 5 and 12 years old, usually have a cultural gap due to economic difficulties but also linguistic, physical and social barriers.
The “Cultural Assignment” project
Stories of culturally entrusted children
How Alessandro, Francesco and Paolothree siblings who live in a family home and, thanks also to Cultural entrustmentthrough visits to the museum and theatrical workshops, accompanied by an operator from the center and their biological father, they managed to indulge in moments of leisure and rebuild a family relationship.
While Anna, a twelve-year-old from Ghana, was culturally entrusted to Fabrizia and Giovannia childless couple with a humanistic background, who became a second family for the girl, who until then had grown up without cultural stimuli and social relations.
To prevent Ottavio’s carefree and cultural activity, however, was a disadvantaged family context: the mother was the victim of violence by her husband. Lucia has taken the child into cultural foster care who, now, is having fun with books and shows, while her mother tries to restore her psychophysical well-being.
How to fight educational poverty together
There are many families or socially responsible citizens who they apply for themselves on the site of Cultural entrustment to offer thisan opportunity for mutual growth and real social inclusion.
«To point out the target families are associations, host communities for migrants, parish priests in the suburbs and teachers with whom we organize meetings to illustrate the project. We have set up a network with third sector entities that help us to match the interests, psychosocial and logistical needs of individual children with the time available and the needs of the foster families »says the creator of the project.
The Cultural Assignment app
Thanks to the support ofsocial enterprise With the children and the network established with cultural partners, the project started in Naples, Bari, Modena and Rome to combat educational poverty, was also replicated in Milan and then, in the latter period, reached Cagliari, Teramo and Arezzo.
Everything is managed byapp Cultural entrustment, on which the affiliated cultural realities can be chosen. «The“ foster families ”are provided with virtual currencies called “e-ducats”, with which you “pay” the entrance ticket, free for children and discounted for the family member. inclusive of the snack, bus and petrol bonus for travel.
Cultural activities do not go on vacation
It is not a matter of sporadic activities, but of a path that includes 29 cultural events throughout the year. “We don’t even stop in summer, we foresee summer camps of about 2 weeks, often promoted by the same cultural realities, as in the case of City of Science in Naples »adds Esposito, while he reveals the satisfaction he feels, on a daily basis, by tracing enthusiasm, curiosity and attention in the eyes of the children involved.
In front of, for example, the Veiled Christ in Naples or visiting and carrying out activities at Cinecittà in Rome, the theaters of Bari, the Civic Museums in Modena, many children discover the power of culture that makes them aware little citizens as well as attentive students.
The future of the project
To show interest in Cultural entrustment there are more and more municipal administrations and third sector realities, so much so that, as Esposito reiterates, the project is constantly growing. «We aim to structure ourselves better in some cities already involved and, at the same time, also arrive in new centers like Palermo and Taranto, always adapting to the needs of the places “he concludes, anticipating the intention to propose summer camps in villages at risk of depopulation, also favoring the custody of territories, to activate a change all together, proceeding in the direction of cultural sharing.
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