ASAI - Associazione Animazione Interculturale

Overall aims
Main aims of the association are:
• social and cultural integration
• defence and promotion of individual cultural and religious identities (as resources and cultural richness, not as a problem)
• promotion of intercultural dialogue and of learning through non formal education
• prevention and fight against racism and prejudices
• promotion of active citizenship and of community development
• communication among youngsters
• young people empowerment
• the development of autonomy skills and of individual potential
• improvement of people’s quality of life
Since the beginning, ASAI focused on teenagers and young people as target groups, through their involvement in learning activities, but it also involves children and adults, families and old people (with the aim of creating inter-generational dialogue and understanding)
The educational support has become during the years one of the main and more requested activities in the ASAI centre: the Italian language classes and the afterschool activities allow young people to reach a faster and successful integration in the Italian school system. Moreover, adults and youngsters can contact the ASAI “employment centre” for a guidance in the choice of training courses or schools and a guidance in their job research. Computer courses are held in ASAI and an Internet point with free access is available for youngsters and adults. Sport activities are organized by ASAI: football, volley and basket teams have been set up with parents involvement as trainers or volunteers to take kids to matches and help the team. The teams often participate to provincial and regional championships.
Meetings for parents are promoted, supported by a psychologist, with the aim of sharing problems and thoughts, dialoguing and setting up a sort of self-aid group among them.
In some particular cases, aimed intervention for youngsters with problems are developed with the contribution of the public Social Services.
Teenagers and young people are often involved in excursions, week-end trips, holiday camps, film-festivals, visits to museums, International youth exchanges, etc.
Youngsters over 18, who attended ASAI activities for a long time, and young University students follow training courses in ASAI to become youth leaders and to support younger fellows. They become teachers of dance, theatre, percussions and Italian language and every week meet among themselves to discuss educational themes. The ASAI centre is also used by different ethnical communities to organise meetings, parties, dinners and dances.
The executive staff of the Association consists of twelve members, professional youth workers, employed full time. The Association also involves 300 volunteers, which are teachers, psychologists, trainers, young University students, youngsters from the Italian Voluntary Service, but also citizens (parents, families, young people)