The event, promoted by the "Salesian Observatory for the Rights of Minors" and the "Borgo Ragazzi Don Bosco", served to raise awareness on a delicate and highly topical issue, such as the emergency of unaccompanied foreign minors present in Italy, and on the possibility of accompaniment in their favor thanks to the intervention of voluntary guardians and the instrument of foster care.
After the intervention of Fr Merlini, who summarized the situation of extreme unease experienced by thousands of unaccompanied minors whose tracks are lost once in Italy, numerous other speakers also discussed the issue.
Among these, Dr. Alida Montaldi, President of the Court for Minors of Rome, focused on the new figure introduced by the law, the volunteer guardian; the Lazio Region Youth and Youth Guarantor explained how the trained volunteer tutors already numbered a thousand.
Alessandro Iannini, instead, operator of the "Borgo", recalled the educational mission of Salesian work, which "supports young people and helps them to integrate into society."
The most touching moment was the testimony of a foster family who welcomed a foreign minor, Disha. "We asked him what he wanted to do after school, but he hesitated; at the end he confessed that he wanted to enroll in the Faculty of Engineering, but he had no possibilities. These children no longer allow themselves to dream and it was this that convinced us to help him in the realization of his dream. Today, Disha is attending university!"
According to the latest official government report, 12,930 unaccompanied minors are present in Italy. This is a real humanitarian crisis, aggravated by the polarization of positions in public opinion, which subtracts from the effort to deepen and dialogue together.
Further information on: www.minorididiritto.org
