UniCredit Foundation

Centro Calabrese di Solidarietà (CCS) operates in Italy, in the field of youth hardship and marginalization, through welcoming, caring for and activating social reintegration actions of disadvantaged individuals, such as women victims of violence, drug addicts, alcohol addicts, immigrants, disadvantaged young people and families.

The CCS inspires its educational/therapeutic work on the philosophy of Progetto Uomo and on the assumption that every man is always the bearer of enormous potential.

It therefore places the person in their entirety, their existential needs and their abilities at the center of attention.

Centro Calabrese di Solidarietà (CCS) operates in Italy, in the field of youth hardship and marginalization, through welcoming, caring for and activating social reintegration actions of disadvantaged individuals, such as women victims of violence, drug addicts, alcohol addicts, immigrants, disadvantaged young people and families.

The CCS inspires its educational/therapeutic work on the philosophy of Progetto Uomo and on the assumption that every man is always the bearer of enormous potential.

It therefore places the person in their entirety, their existential needs and their abilities at the center of attention.

The "YEI! - Youth Education Improvement" programme, selected by UniCredit Foundation through the Call for Education 2023, aimed to equip vulnerable students with the skills and knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their future.

The programme targeted students aged 12 to 18 who were at very high risk of dropping out of school or who had already left education, including NEETs and young people experiencing psychological disorders.

It focused specifically on students from disadvantaged families in Southern Italy and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where educational inequalities were particularly significant. To support these students, the programme mobilised local inter-institutional networks, bringing together schools, social services, civil society organisations, and families.

"YEI!" adopted a multidimensional approach that included teacher supervision programmes, family well-being interventions, school and career guidance activities, and summer trial programmes. It placed particular emphasis on the development of socio-emotional, relational, and cognitive skills as a means of preventing early school leaving.

The programme also promoted the active involvement of families and local communities to address the underlying causes of educational poverty. In addition, it contributed to the creation of a regional partnership of changemakers in education, with the objective of reducing NEET rates and school dropout levels while fostering more inclusive and supportive educational pathways for vulnerable young people.

The "YEI! - Youth Education Improvement" programme, selected by UniCredit Foundation through the Call for Education 2023, aimed to equip vulnerable students with the skills and knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their future.

The programme targeted students aged 12 to 18 who were at very high risk of dropping out of school or who had already left education, including NEETs and young people experiencing psychological disorders.

It focused specifically on students from disadvantaged families in Southern Italy and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where educational inequalities were particularly significant. To support these students, the programme mobilised local inter-institutional networks, bringing together schools, social services, civil society organisations, and families.

"YEI!" adopted a multidimensional approach that included teacher supervision programmes, family well-being interventions, school and career guidance activities, and summer trial programmes. It placed particular emphasis on the development of socio-emotional, relational, and cognitive skills as a means of preventing early school leaving.

The programme also promoted the active involvement of families and local communities to address the underlying causes of educational poverty. In addition, it contributed to the creation of a regional partnership of changemakers in education, with the objective of reducing NEET rates and school dropout levels while fostering more inclusive and supportive educational pathways for vulnerable young people.

Centro Calabrese di Solidarietà

Objectives and Results

Concluded in 2025, the YEI programme involved 9 schools, 225 students and 58 teachers, exceeding initial targets through continuous non‑formal workshops, discussion spaces and guidance. Students showed notable improvements in socio‑emotional skills, motivation and participation, especially in upper secondary schools, and teachers reported better educational practices. Family involvement proved critical, limited by practical barriers and emotional distance. Summer internships for 20 young people strengthened self‑efficacy and future awareness. Overall, YEI improved the school experience despite contextual constraints.

One Student at a Time - Interview to Andrea Barbuto

One Student at a Time - Stories of Educational Empowerment is a video series by UniCredit Foundation that shares the stories of students whose lives have been transformed through the support of the organisations the Foundation works with. Through the voices of those directly involved, each episode highlights the long-term impact that investing in education can have on young people's futures.