UniCredit Foundation

Consorzio Meridia is a non-profit consortium based in Bari (Apulia, Italy), operating in the social-welfare, training and socio-work inclusion fields, with particular attention to professional training and social and socio-health innovation, also through the search for new languages and tools that enhance the contribution of digital.

Meridia invests in human capital and emphasizes the centrality of the individual. The consortium aims to create a new model of social enterprise based on community welfare policies, addressing the needs of those in disadvantaged situations and fostering inclusive growth.

Meridia works with social cooperatives to provide services to people and help integrate marginalized individuals into the labour market.

The consortium engages with local communities to understand their needs and improve the quality of services provided. It adheres to a strict code of ethics and management practices to ensure transparency and accountability.

Over the past two decades, Meridia has built strong roots in the community, gaining deep insights into the realities and stories of people in need. The consortium's efforts have led to the growth of social cooperatives and the creation of a more inclusive and supportive environment for marginalized individuals."

Consorzio Meridia is a non-profit consortium based in Bari (Apulia, Italy), operating in the social-welfare, training and socio-work inclusion fields, with particular attention to professional training and social and socio-health innovation, also through the search for new languages and tools that enhance the contribution of digital.

Meridia invests in human capital and emphasizes the centrality of the individual. The consortium aims to create a new model of social enterprise based on community welfare policies, addressing the needs of those in disadvantaged situations and fostering inclusive growth.

Meridia works with social cooperatives to provide services to people and help integrate marginalized individuals into the labour market.

The consortium engages with local communities to understand their needs and improve the quality of services provided. It adheres to a strict code of ethics and management practices to ensure transparency and accountability.

Over the past two decades, Meridia has built strong roots in the community, gaining deep insights into the realities and stories of people in need. The consortium's efforts have led to the growth of social cooperatives and the creation of a more inclusive and supportive environment for marginalized individuals."

The "Skill@ti" programme, selected by UniCredit Foundation through the Call for Education 2022, aimed to address early school dropout and educational poverty among vulnerable students living in fragile and high-risk neighbourhoods. It sought to achieve this through innovative formal and informal learning pathways that complemented and expanded upon traditional educational approaches.

The programme targeted students aged 13 to 16 who were at risk of early school dropout due to cognitive and/or behavioural difficulties. By providing guided educational support and reinforcement, it aimed to keep these students engaged in education and foster their academic and personal development.

The programme was implemented in Southern Italy, specifically in Bari, Barletta, and Matera, in areas where students were particularly vulnerable to early school dropout. It ensured that educational support reached those who needed it most.

"Skill@ti" adopted a multidimensional approach focused on developing transversal skills, promoting volunteering activities, and encouraging civic and social engagement. The programme included a digital technology campus to strengthen STEM competencies, life skills training to support psychological well-being, and the Changemaker Academy to foster active citizenship. It also involved the Children's Rights Commissioner, the Department of Youth Policies, and various social cooperatives, which together contributed to the creation of a comprehensive support network for participating students.

The "Skill@ti" programme, selected by UniCredit Foundation through the Call for Education 2022, aimed to address early school dropout and educational poverty among vulnerable students living in fragile and high-risk neighbourhoods. It sought to achieve this through innovative formal and informal learning pathways that complemented and expanded upon traditional educational approaches.

The programme targeted students aged 13 to 16 who were at risk of early school dropout due to cognitive and/or behavioural difficulties. By providing guided educational support and reinforcement, it aimed to keep these students engaged in education and foster their academic and personal development.

The programme was implemented in Southern Italy, specifically in Bari, Barletta, and Matera, in areas where students were particularly vulnerable to early school dropout. It ensured that educational support reached those who needed it most.

"Skill@ti" adopted a multidimensional approach focused on developing transversal skills, promoting volunteering activities, and encouraging civic and social engagement. The programme included a digital technology campus to strengthen STEM competencies, life skills training to support psychological well-being, and the Changemaker Academy to foster active citizenship. It also involved the Children's Rights Commissioner, the Department of Youth Policies, and various social cooperatives, which together contributed to the creation of a comprehensive support network for participating students.

Skill@ti

Objectives and Results

The Skill@ti programme, concluded in May 2025, involved 5 schools and 300 students aged 13–17 in Apulia and Basilicata, areas facing high educational poverty and school dropout rates. Through innovative approaches, soft skills development, and experiential learning spaces, the initiative promoted youth empowerment and a vision of school as a safe, inclusive place. The project enhanced students’ digital, life, and changemaker skills and positively impacted teachers, school leaders, and communities by strengthening local networks and collective well-being.