With GRANDE! Nearly 200 Young Migrants Move Towards Autonomy

Almost 200 unaccompanied foreign minors have been supported in building their own path toward autonomy through the GRANDE! project (Giovani stRanieri Accompagnati Nei percorsi Di Inclusione – Young Unaccompanied Foreign Minors Supported in Inclusion Pathways). The initiative, funded by the Con i Bambini Foundation with the support of the San Zeno Foundation, was carried out thanks to a broad partnership led by Cospe, with the participation of the Istituto degli Innocenti as the partner in charge of monitoring and evaluation activities. The project, which lasted 48 months and is now approaching completion, was implemented in the Bologna, Florence, and Lucca.

Final Conference – Monday, October 20, at the Istituto degli Innocenti

On Monday, October 20, the final conference of the project will be held in the Brunelleschi Hall of the Istituto degli Innocenti, with the participation of experts and practitioners involved in caring for unaccompanied foreign minors and young adults.

The meeting will be an opportunity for professionals and experts to exchange views, discuss the challenges these young people face in their integration process in Italy, and identify more effective support strategies.

The GRANDE! project

The project aimed to provide an integrated support model for unaccompanied foreign minors approaching adulthood, as well as former unaccompanied minors in ongoing care, helping them transition from a protected environment to independent living. It sought to enable participants to complete their education or training and access the labour market, fostering economic self-sufficiency for the benefit of both the young people and their host communities.

GRANDE! built on the experience of project partners and other organisations, highlighting strengths and addressing challenges to create strong local networks capable of offering comprehensive support. By engaging stakeholders specialising in education and employment, the project helped unaccompanied minors access targeted training programmes and job opportunities, promoting their autonomy and social integration.

Serving as an integrated support model for young people nearing or recently reaching adulthood, GRANDE! supported participants through the critical transition from protected care to independent life.

Young people were carefully selected based on motivation, commitment, and potential for independence. Nearly 200 individual pathways of autonomy and integration were offered, and significant achievements were obtained.