The project "M'interesso di te", or 'I am interested in and care about you', carried out by the "Salesiani per il Sociale" changes the lives of many of these children. In Catania, it is working to rebuild the lives of AB. Born November 23, 1999, AB left Guinea on August 24, 2015, arrived in Italy on June 9, 2016. After the death of his father nobody could care for his family, as his mother was ill. He had thus to try to reach Italy to send money to the family.
When he arrived in Tripoli, together with another 300 people, he stayed two months in a ditch where they were fed once a day, with rationed water. They stole everything from him, clothes, documents: he suffered violence, he saw people die from the beatings received.
After a day and a half of traveling, he landed in Sicily where he would like to stay, in Catania. He is well and is studying to give himself a chance. Now he is studying at the "Filippo Eredia Deodato" Hotel Training Institute in Catania.
Also in Catania, the Salesians accompany S., a 20-year-old Nigerian. In January 2015 the college where he was studying was targeted by Boko Haram terrorists, who attacked. He managed to escape and return home. But the city was hostage to the terrorist group, so they moved to Kano, in a house of his family. But the house was partially destroyed by a new attack by Boko Haram and S. decided to leave, to help the family as his father had lost his job.
The "I am interested in you" project of the "Salesians for Social Work" supports the work of the network made up of street educators, psychologists and volunteers who immediately guarantee support and protection to each child intercepted. In a second phase, this network offers young people the opportunity to attend an Italian language course, to receive legal assistance for the recognition process, to acquire professional skills and to enter the world of work.
