At ‘San Luigi’, the community's idea and educational practice are based on a holistic model that combines care, education and vocational training. Each young person entering San Luigi is seen as an individual with unique needs, talents and aspirations. The programmes are carefully designed to provide personalised relationships and developmental pathways. These relationships are based on trust, respect and the goal of promoting independence, creating a bridge between these young people's past difficulties and the future they wish to achieve.
The San Luigi approach is firmly rooted in Salesian values: reason, religion and loving-kindness. Reason guides the structured but flexible programmes, ensuring that they meet the complex needs of adolescents. Religion inspires hope, filling the spiritual and cultural gaps that often accompany migration. Loving-kindness manifests itself in the family atmosphere of the community, where each young person is treated with care and dignity. This combination of values creates a basis for growth and resilience.
At San Luigi, education goes beyond just helping. Recognising the potential of each young person, the community promotes a sense of responsibility, awareness of rights and duties, and cultural integration. Daily routines and rules are educational opportunities, teaching essential life skills and promoting emotional maturity. This educational reality turns challenges into learning opportunities, allowing young migrants to rebuild their lives with purpose and stability.
One of the main objectives of San Luigi is to prepare these young people for meaningful integration into society. Language acquisition is a key component, with a structured programme that helps students progress from basic literacy to advanced communication skills. Professional development is also a priority, with vocational training in areas such as mechanics, welding and cooking; and partnerships with local institutions and companies allow young people to apply their skills, laying the foundation for self-sufficiency and future employment.
Cultural integration is also a pillar of the work's educational mission. The community embraces diversity, creating opportunities for intercultural dialogue that promote mutual respect and understanding. Teenagers are guided to maintain pride in their heritage while learning to navigate Italian social norms. This dual focus helps them build a cross-cultural identity, preparing them for a life of meaningful contribution in their new environment.
Operating in a region with complex socio-political dynamics, the community faces numerous challenges. These include navigating bureaucratic hurdles, managing cultural differences and supporting young people who have experienced trauma. Despite these difficulties, the community remains steadfast in its mission, continually refining its approach to provide better opportunities for growth and integration. The resilience of educators and students is a testimony to the transformative power of this educational model.
The journey at San Luigi is designed to culminate in independence and readiness for adulthood. Whether through professional skills, educational achievement or civic understanding, young people leave the community equipped to meet life's challenges. Their growth reflects the commitment of the educators who supported them with patience, empathy and vision.
The San Luigi Salesian community in Gorizia is more than an educational institution; it is a transformative space where young migrants rebuild their lives. By addressing the emotional, educational and professional needs these MSNAs have, it represents an innovative approach to education. The youngsters face a long journey and carry a debt and a significant economic investment for the family: like any teenager, they are attracted to easy solutions and need educators to protect them, but also to push them along good paths. Most of them have very good plans and a lot of resilience. Despite the façade, Italian society is not a completely welcoming system and still precludes most MSNAs from school, training, work and sport. The media often misrepresents young people as deviant and dangerous, and forgets to check that the educational channels necessary for the positive development of every teenager are actually open to them. This is why the mission and action of the San Luigi community along this difficult crossroads is so important, as well as a safe step in Don Bosco's footsteps.
Fr Vincenzo Salerno, SDB
Director of the community for MSNA in Gorizia
