A collaboration between Infogiò and the Pino Daniele Sports Center in Caivano is using sports to promote social inclusion and reduce school dropout rates among local youth, Il Mattino reported.
The initiative currently involves 100 students in their first year of professional training programs. These participants receive professional instruction and can access free sporting activities at the Caivano facility.
The partnership links Infogiò, an organization active in education and professional training for over 20 years, with the Pino Daniele Sports Center, which is managed by Sport e Salute, an agency under the Ministry of Economy.
The program offers several disciplines, including judo, karate, boxing, parkour, and tennis. According to project organizers, combat sports specifically provide an opportunity for young people to channel anger through athletic movement and discipline.
Nicola Perrone, the operational director of the Pino Daniele Center, stated that the facility serves as a space to build different role models than those previously represented in the territory. He noted that the center acts as a “presidium of legality.”
The project also utilizes athletes from the Fiamme Oro, the Italian State Police sports group, to serve as mentors. Perrone said this helps break cultural barriers between youth and law enforcement by positioning police officers as technical instructors who help improve student skills.
“When a Fiamme Oro champion teaches you how to throw a punch, you want to use that gesture on the tatami or in the ring, not outside,” Perrone said.
The collaboration has allowed physical education hours, which were originally held in classrooms, to be moved into the Pino Daniele Sports Center. Infogiò President Senofonte Demitry said the idea to provide free memberships to all 100 first-year students grew from a suggestion by Perrone.
Demitry reported that the demand for these vocational paths is growing. He noted that more than 50 additional youths have requested to leave traditional schooling to pursue professional training and learn a trade through the program.
Infogiò has submitted a formal request to the Campania Region to obtain authorization to accommodate these additional students. Demitry said providing these alternatives is fundamental to preventing school dropout rates.
To ensure accessibility for economically vulnerable families, the program utilizes regional vouchers to provide subsidized rates at the center. Perrone noted that 1,200 vouchers were made available for these purposes.
Data from the first two weeks of the program shows that more than 800 requests for these vouchers have already been received.
| Category | Current Figure |
|---|---|
| Initial student participants | 100 |
| Total regional vouchers available | 1,200 |
| New vocational training requests | Over 50 |
Early results from the program include several students earning national titles and recognitions. Some participants have also begun competing while wearing the Fiamme Oro colors.
