Lat school it is a welcoming and inclusive environment that guarantees a learning path as well as socialization among children. This is confirmed by the project PEACE – Community welcome paths in educational contexts – promoted by the association Helpcode Italy which, for over 30 years, has been operating in Italy and around the world to protect the rights of minors.
Ukrainian children during the Summer Camps
Inclusion among the school desks
“Faced with the thousands of families with minors who fled the war in Ukraine and landed in Genoa, we encountered the need for support in social and especially school integration. To meet this need, in May, we supported the school with laboratory and welcome activities »says Francesco Bartoletti, manager of Helpcode’s Italian projects.
The pilot project, which lasted about a month, was very successful, so much so that, looking to the summer, to avoid the risk of isolation for Ukrainian children lacking opportunities for socialization, Helpcode Italia has activated i Summer Camp.
Free summer camps for Ukrainian children
«In reality – explains Bartoletti – for some years we have been organizing summer camps on the outskirts of Genoa, at the“ Teglia ”Comprehensive Institute, for primary school children. But this year, in the face of the emergency of the war, we have also decided to open the doors to small Ukrainian refugees by welcoming them for free“.
In addition to playful activities and support in carrying out homework for the holidays as well as in learning the first basics of the Italian language, the Helpcode summer centers also provide educational-cultural and other outings playful-expressive workshops who, week after week, explore various current issues, how “Stop prejudices “ which sensitizes children to the discovery of differences by breaking down the wall of stereotypes, “STEM – Genes at work!“ dedicated to science, “Planet! A world to save“On the topic of environmental and food sustainability,”Around the world with Helpcode”To discover stories from different parts of the world, beyond every barrier.
Regain the serenity stolen by the war
«The goal is guarantee to these children, already traumatized and uprooted from their daily reality, a more welcoming and gradual social insertion, capable of restoring them a sense of security and protection, essential for their well-being. This is made possible by the interactive and experiential teaching methodology which, thanks to the support of our educators and volunteers, makes children the protagonists in a path of mutual knowledge and exchange, in which the spontaneity of the relationship between peers gives back moments of serenity “comments Bartoletti.
The story of little Bogdan
Just as it is happening these days, al little Bogdan who, at the age of 8, found himself experiencing the drama of war, but, fortunately, in Genoa he found a safe haven in which to regain possession of his peaceful childhood.
«He has always been a very independent child, he likes to relate to others, but he needs the right time to socialize. Inevitably, as soon as he arrived, he was in awe of a totally new reality into which he suddenly found himself catapulted, but these summer camps are helping him tremendously. First of all, he is learning the Italian language, but also the Italian system to respect its rules. He has many new friends and is ready to attend school from September “ says Levgenia, Bogdan’s mother, who fled with her two children from Odessa and was welcomed in Genoa by a family as well as by Helpcode who promptly offered free participation in the Summer Camps.
New activities for the restart of the school
“His regained serenity is also reflected in the drawings he is making these days, guided by his surprising artistic skills” adds Bartoletti announcing that the summer camps, to which it is still possible to subscribeare turning out to be an opportunity for mutual acquaintance between Italian and Ukrainian children, through the universal language of playto such an extent that it is hoped to be able to continue with the activities when the school restarts.
Courses Italian language base, to allow the families of children fleeing the conflict to reach a first linguistic autonomy, indispensable for insertion in the new social context. And then knowledge games, playful-educational workshops that promote learning, tutorship courses between Italian and Ukrainian parents: these are some of the activities that Helpcode aims to ensure for Ukrainian children and families, from September, involving more neighborhoods and institutes scholastics in Genoa, with the permanent support of a linguistic mediator and, hopefully, of donors who support the project. In order for it to be confirmed an important point of reference for Ukrainian families welcomed in the Ligurian city.
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