“Ctrl+Alt: Reboot the System”! A project selected and supported by the Digital Republic Fund Social Enterprise

The Digital Republic Fund is a public-private partnership (the Government and the Association of Foundations and Savings Banks – Acri), operating within the digitalization goals set by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) and the PNC (National Complementary Plan), and funded by contributions from banking foundations, which receive a tax credit in return. The Fund selects and supports digital training and inclusion projects targeting various segments of the population, such as NEETs, women, unemployed and inactive individuals, workers at risk of job loss due to automation, lower and upper secondary school students, social economy workers, and people in prison or in vulnerable conditions. The goal is to test digital training and inclusion projects and scale up the most effective ones, offering best practices to the Government for use in shaping future national policies. For more information, visit fondorepubblicadigitale.it.

Specifically, the project proposal aims to engage (through extra moenia activities) primarily minors under the supervision of the USSM (Juvenile Justice Social Services Office) of Catania, with particular reference to its branch office in Ragusa, as well as the province of Bari, with the goal of countering deviant behavior and the risk of recidivism, and promoting a virtuous path to social and occupational reintegration.

Thanks to the experience of the partners involved (Formazione e Comunione Cooperativa Sociale, Nuovi Orizzonti, Ac Technology, Missione e Famiglia Onlus), the project includes intervention actions across all areas: digital training, strengthening of life and/or soft skills, comprehensive case management, and pathways toward employment and matching with local businesses.

The activities planned under this project proposal include guidance, counseling, training, and initiatives to ease entry into the workforce. All beneficiaries take part in guidance activities (both at the start and end of the program) and in pathways designed to strengthen self-awareness and develop life and soft skills. The remaining activities (digital training, language skill enhancement, activation of inclusion internships) will be identified and selected for each beneficiary following the initial guidance phase and the drafting of an individual training plan. This approach allows each participant to build a personalized training path that responds to their specific interests and needs, better able to engage and motivate them.

Initial guidance

This activity, aimed at at least 50 minors (per province), involves several phases: referral of beneficiaries by the USSM, analysis of the minors’ needs and identification of objectives, actions, and timelines, information on the program and work experience opportunities, and the drafting of an individual training plan. Personalized counseling pathways will then be activated to engage participants proactively, making them active and independent agents in their future career choices. During this process, interests, aptitudes, experiences, and acquired skills are explored, which can later be leveraged for employment or to complete the training path. At the end of this first phase, each beneficiary is informed of and directed toward at least one of the project’s activities: digital training or language skill enhancement pathways. (Fo.co. Onlus)

Pathways to strengthen self-awareness and develop life and soft skills

This activity, aimed at all beneficiaries, combines educational action with tools that encourage reflection, personal growth, and the acquisition of transversal skills. This form of guidance and skill-building holds lasting value in a person’s life, ensuring ongoing development and support in decision-making processes, with the aim of promoting active employment, economic growth, and social inclusion. (Fo.co. Onlus)

Exit guidance

Through an integrated process of skills assessment and personalized guidance, each participant will be able to analyze and enhance their own skills, identifying strengths and areas for improvement following the completed pathways, in order to support targeted socio-occupational integration. Group and individual meetings are organized based on participants’ expressed needs, focused on active job searching and training opportunities, and support is provided in drafting resumes and cover letters. The main objective of this action, which concludes the other activities, is to help all beneficiaries gain greater autonomy and awareness in managing career and life choices, and to create stimulating opportunities different from those experienced in the past. (Fo.co. Onlus)

Digital training pathways

This activity includes digital literacy courses, one AI course per province, and an app development workshop. (Ac Technology Srl)

Language skill enhancement pathways in L1 and L2 (for beneficiaries with a migrant background) or LS (foreign language). (Mi.fa. Onlus)

Scouting and mapping of local organizations and businesses

Active outreach to businesses to activate inclusion internships and/or hands-on workshops for developing and strengthening professional and personal skills. (Nuovi Orizzonti for the province of Ragusa, Fo.co. Onlus for the province of Bari)

Expected results

The expected results of a project with the activities described, aimed at minors under criminal proceedings, can be organized into several areas:

1. Training and personal outcomes:

• Digital and technological literacy: improved basic and advanced digital skills, including conscious and critical use of technology and an introduction to artificial intelligence.

• Soft skills development: greater self-awareness, improved communication, relational, and problem-solving skills.

• Language skills improvement: enhanced Italian language proficiency for foreign beneficiaries with a migrant background, and acquisition of one or more foreign languages to increase autonomy and social/occupational integration.

2. Guidance-related outcomes:

• Life planning: acquisition of tools for greater self-awareness and understanding of one’s own potential, necessary to build a clear and realistic life plan.

• Career guidance: development of transversal skills related to self-presentation and resume writing, to approach the job market with greater preparation and confidence.

3. Occupational and inclusion outcomes:

• Approach to the world of work: understanding of workplace dynamics, market needs, and professional development opportunities, through specific meetings and guidance sessions.

• Internships and hands-on workshops: activation of work and practical experiences (internships, workshops) allowing beneficiaries to apply acquired skills, facilitating job placement.

• Improvement of professional skills: development and strengthening of technical and professional abilities through direct interaction with local companies and businesses.

4. Community and territorial outcomes:

• Improved social inclusion: reduced marginalization through strengthened relationships between beneficiaries and the local community.

• Creation of a territorial network: building and consolidating a system of collaboration among training organizations, businesses, and organizations to ensure beneficiaries have greater concrete opportunities for social and occupational inclusion.