15 July: World Youth Skills Day

15 July: World Youth Skills Day

CDP with Italian children and teenagers to make the most of their potential

In Italy, in 2020, 46% of children between 6 and 17 years old hadn’t read a single book. In 2019, one in two didn’t visit a museum or an exhibition.  The figures are even worse in the most deprived socio-economic situations, where families aren’t in a position to follow their children’s studies or ensure that they can engage in appropriate cultural and recreational activities. The issue of skills not acquired affects the future: the ability to work, interact with other people and access care. 

Fondazione CDP, created in 2020 by the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group, promotes the #youthefuture project together with Save The Children. The young people involved followed training workshops to become radio announcers, created podcasts and were accompanied on themed courses dedicated to active citizenship.

In its first year, #youthefuture has already reached over 5,000 young people from 84 schools in critical situations in Ancona, Avellino, Chieti, Crotone, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Potenza, Praia a Mare, Rome, Scalea and Velletri. To encourage educational collaboration, teachers, head teachers and parents were also involved.

The Strumenti per crescere (Tools to Grow) call, launched by Fondazione CDP together with the social enterprise Con i Bambini, instead focuses on the south of Italy. The call is directed towards projects that aim to strengthen the STEAM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) of students between 11 and 17 in Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Apulia, Sardinia and Sicily.

The projects propose innovative teaching models, including the use of digital tools (e.g. gamification, digital learning, coding), to stimulate creativity and interest in skills that are in great demand on the job market.

These are just a few examples of the CDP Group’s commitment to making the most of the untapped potential of young Italians. Reinforcing skills, offering opportunities and experimenting with new educational methods is an investment in the coming generation, an investment in the future.