Together 4 a Better World

Access to the employment world is a fundamental right, being one of the most effective ways to promote the inclusion and autonomy of people with intellectual disabilities. For individuals with Down syndrome, job training is very limited: without specific learning opportunities dedicated to their needs, their professional and social development is paralysed.​

In Turin, 6.7 per cent of households experience absolute poverty and more than 2,500 people are homeless. These people are unable to realise one of their basic material needs: the right to clothing. At the same time, there is a decrease in clothing distribution services in Turin and it is becoming increasingly difficult to access free, quality clothes.

Girls and boys with autism spectrum disorder may experience distress due to their impaired ability to relate not only to others but to themselves and their bodies. This project aims to develop opportunities for participants to express themselves through dance by learning, socialising, and enhancing their skills.

Casa Nazaret needs to adapt its facilities to adequately care for residents with special needs: the current shared rooms limit the use of essential medical equipment and the provision of intensive and personalised care. Reform is urgently needed to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of these residents by providing an appropriate and functional environment.

Increased knowledge in insurance and finance entails awareness and autonomy in decision-making, especially with regard to younger generations. Therefore, it is crucial to offer training programmes on the subject in schools, so that even the youngest can understand the benefits and risks associated with insurance and investments.

Child guests of the SS Natale di Torino residential community not only need board and lodging, but also to be able to participate in recreational, sports, educational, or rehabilitation activities that allow them to experience normality and familiarity. For this reason, the community needs to be independent in its movements, so that it can extend its reach.

For people with intellectual functional diversity, sport is an important means of improving their physical, cognitive, and mental state. Sport helps strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and increase physical endurance, but it also aids concentration, memory, and decision-making, reducing stress, improving mood, and boosting self-esteem.

A sedentary lifestyle is responsible for harm to the body and associated with ageing or other diseases; it decreases motor performance and predisposes adults with disabilities and the elderly to being more dependent. The availability of activities involving these individuals in areas with a high incidence of cases proves to be the key to combating this situation.​

In Chile, the labour inclusion of people with disabilities is a challenge. This is why the Corpaliv project addresses the problem of labour and social exclusion that affects more than 3,291,602 permanently disabled people, more than 60% of whom are unemployed. Moreover, of the 17% of adults with disabilities in Chile, 11.4% have a severe disability.​

More and more cancer patients undergoing conventional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy develop advanced metastatic sarcomas that are resistant to these methods. Given the increasing incidence, it is more important than ever to study the behaviour of cancer cells to identify new, more effective treatments.

The mission of ASD Thunder Roma is to fully include young people with disabilities through sport (in particular powerchair football), a decisive factor in personal development. To guarantee this right, however, support is needed to meet the huge costs involved in participating in a competition as important as the 2025 Italian PCF Cup.

In the society in which we live, the youngest must be encouraged to contribute to the community, instilling the values of solidarity and assistance experienced daily by the Volunteer Fire Brigades, for many years Chile’s best-loved institution. The Youth Brigade is a concrete way to make this organisation, which is already more than 22 years old, effective.​​

After the Avigliana experience, the goal of the Associazione Ming Bai is to found a Baskin (inclusive basketball) team in Turin, a city increasingly sensitive to social issues. Rich in the most varied educational proposals and receptive to inclusion-related projects, the city needs to develop concrete initiatives in this direction.

Young people face high levels of stress and limited opportunities for social inclusion, increasing the risk of mental and chronic illness due to the lack of safe spaces for emotional expression and personal growth. The project responds to this urgent need by promoting mental health and social integration through theatre, dance, and similar activities.

Humanisation in healthcare is one of the WHO guidelines. Respect for diversity and the vision of the individual as a person in need of care are priority aspects for this practice, but the majority of state healthcare centres in Chile do not have the tools to facilitate this type of more humane care, which also leads to longer wait lists.

Leisure time is fundamental in the lives of everyone, including people with functional diversity. The Centre de Lleure El Dofí offers sports, artistic, and leisure options that meet the needs of the inhabitants of El Alt Empordá, a region that currently offers few recreational opportunities, especially in relation to disadvantage.

Preventive intervention before a violent incident occurs is crucial to protect potential victims and break the cycle of abuse. Prevention, through education and awareness-raising, can reduce the risk of aggressive behaviour by creating a safer environment. Acting sooner means saving lives and promoting a more just and respectful society.

Prali (TO) is embarking on a journey to make the area more welcoming to people with physical and cognitive disabilities, which includes training staff in tourism and recreational activities and investing in projects to make spaces more accessible. These include the adventure park, which is frequented by young people and adults alike to practise sports surrounded by greenery.

Children with ultra-rare diseases and their parents have often unmet “special needs”. Due to their rarity and complexity, they have no clinical management protocols and require an incredible number of targeted specialist investigations and diverse in-depth studies. The enormous difficulties experienced have repercussions on the psychological health of the parents.

The Fenici [The Phoenixes] rugby team was created in response to the under-representation of women in sport in Italy, particularly in leadership roles. Female athletes face cultural and infrastructural barriers that limit their access to opportunities for development and growth. This context requires targeted interventions to support their empowerment to break down the so-called “glass ceiling”.

Globalisation calls for reflection on valuing traditions to avoid homogenisation in line with global models. According to UNESCO, traditions are vital to community identity and, although dynamic, must be valued and protected. In Piedmont, examples include 18th century and Risorgimento dances, the underground heritage, and mountain songs.

The number of women in the Turin area facing breast cancer and the gruelling treatment it requires, during and after surgery, is remarkably high. There is evidence, however, that playing team sports, competing with other women who have been through the same process, can promote physical and mental health and encourage women to lead full and active lives.

Access to work and mobility is crucial for the integration of the foreign community. Obtaining a driver's licence is essential and this study by SSAW – Support Survivor of African War – explores the impact of driver's licence training courses. First-hand accounts reveal how the licence opens up new opportunities and promotes autonomy and social inclusion.

After floods devastated the village in 2023, the community of Rizovouni faced isolation. Urgently educating the community on disaster preparedness and resilience is essential to mitigate the effects of future disasters: renewal efforts will improve emotional well-being and rebuild social life.

70% of children diagnosed with cancer will have a disability associated with the cancer or its treatment. It is important to develop and establish a short-term follow-up plan, tailored to the particularities of each case of diagnosis and treatment, to detect sequelae that may appear early and to improve quality of life.​

Borgo Rubens is a place of blossoming, where you can feel at home and rediscover yourself, relaxing and regaining happiness. It is a meeting place where animals, children, adults, and the elderly can experience special relationships that “heal” the soul and body. It is a shared space where numerous activities come to life, intertwining to create synergies and special experiences.

In the face of a continuous increase in demand for care, the entire health and social services sector and residential care homes in particular are experiencing a dramatic shortage of staff. Fondazione Casa di Dio Onlus has therefore decided to invest in training courses to acquire more skills, inspiring professionalism and innovating care processes.

The province of Carbonia (Sardinia) offers few opportunities to young people, who gradually become disaffected with their homeland and find it increasingly difficult to conceive of a fulfilling professional future. Therefore, creative, cultural, and scientific initiatives are needed to motivate them to study and actively participate in the life of their region.

Most children and young people with Spinal Muscular Atrophy or similar neuromuscular diseases cannot move around independently. When they decide to take up a sport, families have to invest in specially equipped electric wheelchairs, which also require new organisation when travelling for training and competitions.

OECD PISA 2022 data on students' financial literacy show that students who receive structured education on the subject display better skills. It is therefore crucial to promote this type of learning, especially in institutions where such training is totally absent, so as to avoid economic risks in the future of these girls and boys.

Urological disease prevention in adolescence is not yet an established practice. The aim of the Totò Morgana Onlus project is to offer secondary schools in Sicily and Calabria opportunities for in-depth study and discussion to prevent chronic uro-andrological diseases and promote healthy lifestyles.

Basilicata is an area with a real abundance of resources. As of today, however, the Lucanian region shows deterioration of the natural balance due to hydrogeological instability and pollution caused by the abandonment of waste, the reduction of biodiversity, and the consequent degradation of plant and animal species habitats.

A recent Italian study (Centro Nazionale Dipendenze e Doping, ISS, 2023) found that at least 700,000 Italian adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17 make compulsive and uncontrolled use of social media and streaming platforms and that roughly between 50,000 and 100,000 young people begin to feel the urge to social isolation, replacing the real with the virtual.

The Sirima community in Kenya is facing a severe shortage of drinking water, which is essential for health, hygiene, and education. The lack of access to clean water also compromises the operations of local schools and hospitals, causing illness and distress. Urgent action is needed to improve living conditions and ensure a safe and healthy environment.

Care Leavers are defined as young people coming out of state-supported protection (family foster care, community placement or group homes). In Italy, the number amounts to 8,000 young adults. It is clear how much these young people need personalised and effective forms of protection and guidance towards autonomy, which are almost non-existent today.

The project is a continuation of the training activities that Teatro delle Forchette APS schedules every year as an internal and external training plan. Active for over twenty years, The Theatre and Teatr'Ok are two well-established organisations, well rooted in the Forlì-Cesena area, and considered sound training venues for younger generations of citizens.

Now in its fifth edition, Art & Science Across Italy is a project of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare [National Institute of Nuclear Physics] and CERN in Geneva that promotes scientific culture among secondary school students. It combines the languages of art and science, two instruments of knowledge that are among the highest expressions of human creativity.

The urban area of Foggia is characterised by several issues affecting the youth population: unemployment, for example, is particularly high, often exceeding the national average. Many young people lack adequate digital skills, which clearly limits their chances of employment and active participation in modern society.

Children and adolescents with cancer are in the middle of physical, psychological, and social growth and development. Although the disease presents them with new needs, there remains a need to ensure their access to inclusive and quality leisure time that promotes empowerment and helps them cope with their current reality.​

Hogar Cardenal Jose Maria Caro is home to a population of elderly people with different levels of functionality, the result of multiple chronic conditions, which in some cases lead to moderate and severe dependence. It is therefore essential to have an inclusive therapeutic space that enables continuity of therapies and/or activities carried out by the rehabilitation team.

According to the WHO, 1 in 4 adults does not get enough physical activity to be healthy. These include people with disabilities, who are often unable to participate in sports due to a lack of facilities and trained staff. RunChallenge is a community open to all that values the diversity of each individual, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.

The Associazione Scuole Tecniche San Carlo has been working for years in the city of Turin, ethically collaborating with public bodies, the voluntary sector, and companies active in the area. A discussion with partners revealed the need to provide training support to companies obliged to hire under Law 68/99, to improve accessibility and inclusion on disability issues.

There is an alarming increase in gender-based violence and femicide, with an average of one per month in 2024. This increase has led to an unprecedented demand for psychosocial and legal support services. Many survivors, however, do not have access to essential support due to systemic barriers and cultural stigmas: as a result, it is Diotima’s goal to expand these services.​

It is essential for people with disabilities to have a methodical and targeted programme in order to meet their daily living needs in the best possible way. The KEA/AMEA Centre is located in Chaidari, Athens, and offers a range of activities to work on their skills for improved quality of life.

When we talk about care, in more than 80% of cases the care of the person concerned falls on the family, in particular on one of the members who acts as the main caregiver. According to current data, Spanish families bear 87% of total care costs. It is therefore essential to offer educational and emotional support to those who dedicate their time to others every day.

In Italy, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale has a limited commitment and low coverage in the dental sector, despite its many health and social implications. In a context where the absolute poverty rate reaches 9.8% among individuals, the prostheses that International Dental Cooperation offers free of charge are increasingly in demand.

Classical music is an immense cultural heritage of beauty and civilisation and should be part of the cultural background of students at all levels. Based on this principle, and using musical language, the Quartetto Fauves offers students new interpretative tools for the web content they are exposed to every day.

The Antonelli Experience project stems from highlighting the figure of Antonelli, his creative genius, and understanding of his works and architectural designs by creating an exhibition with fixed and multimedia installations at the Museo Storico Etnografico [Historical and Ethnographic Museum] of the Bassa Valsesia.

Hotline for Cancer operates throughout Greece and fills gaps in urban, suburban, and rural areas, overcoming inequalities in the health sector and addressing the unique challenges and needs of the Greek population: gaps in the health system, cancer incidence, smoking rates, psychosocial support needs, and technological accessibility.

In the Valparaíso region, it is difficult to access public sector physical activity and healthy living programmes, which help prevent and delay the effects of chronic non-communicable diseases for people with visual impairment. Being able to access these programmes is crucial and makes people aware of their role in their own health.

For people with disabilities, independence is a condition to strive for to affirm those principles of self-sufficiency and self-assertion that distinguish and empower individuals. Cooperativa Sire's project aims to provide them with residential experiences that allow them to maintain their routines with respect to personal commitments, such as work and attendance at day care centres, while experiencing their ability to be independent outside of their families.

In 2023, the history of “San José FC”, a football school that has generated strong emotional and training connections with children and their families, began. It has become a complementary educational option for many parents from at-risk neighbourhoods in Puente Alto, characterised by the presence of drug micro-trafficking and a high rate of street violence. 

Twenty per cent of the Madrid population is at risk of poverty and the percentage is higher in families with children. These households also have higher rates of children being overweight/obese and worse environmental quality indices. Education about nutritional and environmental health and active lifestyles will help these children to fully grow and develop.

The restoration of the Chiesetta di Sant'Antonio in Leofreni (RI) aims to make an ancient place of worship, on which several popular customs and traditions are still based, accessible and able to be enjoyed again. Once restored, the church will also be used to offer citizens cultural and musical events, bringing new life to the Cicolano hamlet.

Chile is exposed to natural disasters due to climate change and its geographical location. Fires, floods, and the constant fear of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions constantly afflict the population. Heavy rains mainly affect the north of the country, with devastating consequences for the safety and economy of communities.

The Hospital Materno of Malaga is a reference centre for most of Andalusia, Ceuta, Melilla, and Morocco. It is at the forefront of cancer treatment, bone marrow transplants, and the treatment of serious diseases. The Fundación Olivares works in coordination with the hospital to offer its services to patients, since they are not offered by the public administration or are insufficient.​

People with intellectual disabilities with complex support needs represent a particularly vulnerable group. They are exposed to dynamics that violate their rights and generate social exclusion if not countered with appropriate measures and support, relying on the participation of the affected persons. This programme specifically addresses the needs of these people.

The current situation in the children’s health field demonstrates the critical need to improve the care and services available to children. Despite medical advances, there are significant gaps in the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases in children, which negatively affect their well-being and general development.​

Managing increasing loneliness among the elderly, a demographic group that is increasing in size as the years go by, is a challenge that not only Spanish society, but most countries on the planet face. This project responds to participant needs, social needs, and specific local needs through a comprehensive approach.​

Young people experience multidimensional poverty that diminishes their educational and vocational opportunities and exposes them to a high risk of exclusion from the employment world. This risk is often combined with physical and/or mental disability: if an immigrant background exacerbates the NEET risk, disability is another exclusion factor.

In Valls, there is a need to create a space that generates mutual support between neighbourhoods, a place to play sports and follow a healthy lifestyle, where vulnerable children have access to educational and recreational activities. A safe space needs creating that encourages the expression of emotions and feelings through art.

Chronic pain has no effective cure and is on the rise in the aftermath of trauma from road and work accidents with nerve injuries and in syndromes such as fibromyalgia, with tragic psychological and occupational repercussions. Despite this, the Sistema Sanitario Nazionale [National Health System] has no dedicated department for people with DC-I and trials of new treatments are rare.

The diagnosis of a neoplasm in childhood or youth and the associated course of treatment drastically worsen a family's quality of life. This is also true for children and adolescents being treated at the Oncology Paediatrics Department of the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano [National Cancer Institute of Milan] and their families, who need moments of recreation, serenity, and rest.

In recent years, the balance between school, extracurricular activities, and leisure time has changed radically due to the excessive use of new technologies. This has influenced the daily routines of children and adolescents, with leisure time often dominated by educational and sporting commitments, but also by intensive use of various devices, which is often harmful.

The relationship with animals can be a source of knowledge through sensory and emotional stimuli, both for individuals with normal development and for people with disabilities. Pet Therapy was created based on this evidence, aimed at improving the quality of life of those who participate and their relationships with their family and friendship circles.

To all intents and purposes, physical activity can be considered a tool for preventing chronic and degenerative diseases as well as a treatment tool, because it counteracts the loss or reduction of functional capacities. Furthermore, it is well known that sports activity plays an important role in socialisation and emancipation from adversity.

Cultural opportunities for disabled people, especially in the world of entertainment, are almost non-existent and in any case occasional. Aware of this inequality, L'Arte nel Cuore wants to rebalance supply in the sector, acting on the isolation of young people with disabilities to break down interpersonal, institutional, and contextual walls.

The Campania Region, which ranks third in terms of catering activities with over 31,000 companies, offers excellent employment prospects. The course for Operatore free-flow in catering trains multi-skilled professionals for cooking and pastry making, responding to the needs of companies through work placements that may prove to be springboards for future employment in the sector.

The loss of a parent at a developmental age is a risk factor for the development of forms of mental suffering that may evolve into psychopathology, school withdrawal, and reduced sociability. The Turin public service does not yet provide specific psychological support for bereaved minors, unless they have already developed significant forms of distress.

Across the country, the number of people who can no longer meet their basic needs is growing. The economic crisis and inflation are forcing many people to give up certain priorities to make ends meet; more and more families are therefore forced to turn to charities and voluntary associations for help and support.

Aurora is a Turin district characterised by a high percentage of young foreign citizens, who account for 50 per cent of residents aged between 15 and 29. Economic precarity often results in social distress and consequent tensions. This is where Balon Mundial fits in with its football school, offering educational opportunities and chances for inclusion and social interaction.

In the multicultural context of Milan, home to some 445,000 foreign citizens, sport can be a special key for integrating. Thanks to its universal language, sport allows people to welcome and be welcomed without prejudice, offering a concrete possibility to overcome cultural barriers and foster exchange between communities.

With its 116,977 inhabitants, Val Camonica is an isolated area with few connections to the services of the surrounding big cities. The 9,241 people with disabilities who live there are almost excluded from the employment world due to serious difficulties in accessing it, often aggravated by prejudice and lack of support, especially if mentally disabled.

In the Cáritas Diocesana of Cuenca, it was found that the people who come to the facilities are people who, in most cases, are close to the poverty line and, due to various factors, have not had the opportunity to train or work. This situation is aggravated by difficulties in accessing basic rights such as housing and food.​