DesTEENazione Guidelines Published

The DesTEENazione (DesTEENation) guidelines, an operational framework designed to support the implementation of project activities at local level and align projects with the aims of the experiment, have been published. The document is structured in two sections: an introductory part that defines the reference framework and the methodological principles guiding the development of local experiences, and a second section that explores in greater depth the content of the activity areas already outlined in the Notice, together with other elements useful for project management.

The guidelines are conceived as an open and flexible document, intended to be enriched over time through contributions from practitioners, as well as from the young people who will take part in the projects. Each activity area is presented according to a unified structure, divided into four components: Methodological Aims and Guidelines, Objectives, Operational and Organisational Methods, Professional Competencies.

The DesTEENation project is promoted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. The Istituto degli Innocenti is responsible for the project’s thematic support, providing scientific and methodological guidance, enhancing and innovating practices, and promoting the sharing of experiences at both interregional and national levels.

The DesTEENation project

The DesTEENation Project was launched with the aim of creating 60 multifunctional experiential spaces, which have recently increased to 92 following the approval and funding of an additional 32 projects, distributed across the entire national territory. These spaces are designed to enhance individual resources and foster the expression of the potential of pre-adolescents and adolescents.

The activities promoted within these spaces aim to encourage the active participation of young people, support integration and social inclusion, strengthen emotional and relational skills, and prevent early school leaving. Special attention is also given to employment pathways, through targeted actions aimed at supporting young people in their entry into the world of work. Support activities for families are also included, complementing the overall objectives of the project.

The innovative element - and at the same time the main challenge - of DesTEENation lies in its ability to bring together, in a single setting, a range of services designed for this age group, creating integrated spaces that are coherent with the emerging needs of boys and girls. These spaces will be managed by multidisciplinary teams composed of professionals from the educational, psychological, and social fields, working in close collaboration with existing local services and enhancing the role and contribution of third-sector organisations. The goal is to promote an intervention model based on shared responsibility among generations, professions, institutions, and community actors, capable of providing effective and inclusive support.

The project contributes to the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee (PANGI), adopted by Italy in response to Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 of 14 June 2021, which establishes the European Child Guarantee. This initiative aims to combat poverty and social exclusion of children, adolescents and young people up to the age of 21 by ensuring their wider access to services and opportunities.

Direct recipients of the project are adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17, young people between the ages of 18 and 21 - in accordance with the National Action Plan - and parents of pre-adolescents and adolescents. Indirect recipients include the professionals, the institutions, schools and services that will be able to make use of the facilities as advisory and intervention resources.