As part of the Erasmus+ consortium accreditation, professional staff from Jesenice AEC, Zasavje AEC and UPI Žalec AEC participated in job shadowing. To gain insights into good ALE practices for diverse target groups of participants, we visited Turin, Italy.
Our hosts, Daniele and Francesco, come from the young and dynamic educational agency DIDAXÉ. Their goal is to promote innovative and high-quality vocational programmes that enable personal and professional growth for vulnerable adults. Their work is spread between Turin and Naples. The first significant insights we gained related to the extent of the mafia’s influence on education in Italy. Daniele and Francesco guided us through the lives of young people in regions with limited access to education due to the impact of organised crime. Young people find themselves in environments dominated by the fear and pressure of the mafia, which significantly affects their freedom and choices. This prompted us to reflect on the importance of creating safe and supportive environments for young people where they can develop without fear. At the same time, we wondered if similar social challenges also affect Slovenia. And if so, are adult educators sufficiently equipped to create supportive environments?
Different approaches
During our mobility programme, we visited various organisations such as Cecchi Point, Balon Mundial and Gi. We learned about various inclusive approaches for integrating vulnerable target groups into the local community. The sports association Balon Mundial is an excellent example of promoting an inclusive society, where sports serve as the primary tool for empowering people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Through football, they connect migrants and the mainstream population, fostering a sense of belonging and equality. Our visit to CPD – Consulta per Persone in Difficoltà encouraged us to explore new ways in which adult educators can connect with individuals and assist them in integrating into society. We were also impressed by the approaches at the ENGIM Foundation, which operates as an educational centre for adults. Their focus is on vocational education and training. Their approach to vulnerable adults, whom they encounter daily, is based on acquiring practical skills through training and internships in companies.
Back to the mafia
The mafia shapes education needs. Roberto Greco, founder and president of Didaxé, explained that their most intensive work is with Italians living in the South. The mafia’s influence on society and the economy places the local population in a challenging position. It is infrequent to find families where both parents have regular employment. These people often lack basic workers’ rights knowledge, are financially illiterate, lack basic job-seeking skills and miss essential skills for available jobs. Therefore, the work of counsellors and educators is crucial. In the modern world, education is increasingly recognised as a vital tool for overcoming social challenges and creating a more inclusive future. Our recent mobility experience in Turin, where we had the opportunity to learn about the operations of various educational organisations and confront different social realities, was invaluable. It reminded us of the importance of tailoring education to the needs of society and individuals, as only with such an approach can we contribute to society as a whole.
Katarina Bertoncelj (katarina.bertoncelj@lu-jesenice.net), Jesenice AEC
