Policoro diocese project Terni-Narni-Amelia

The Policoro Project: A Commitment Towards the Future
In response to the persistent challenges of the labor market, which particularly affect the young generations, the Policoro Project comes to life, an initiative supported by the Italian Episcopal Conference. This project is positioned at the intersection of faith, hope and concrete commitment, addressing youth unemployment with a holistic approach that harmonizes the spiritual and work dimensions.
The meeting organized by Don Mario Operti on 14 December 1995 in Policoro, Matera, marks the origin of this project. On that occasion, Don Mario brought together key figures from the social and labor ministry, youth ministry and Caritas to address the employment crisis affecting young people with energy and compassion.

The Policoro Project aims to transform local communities into agents of evangelization in the work sector, promoting a renewed work culture and supporting young people in the discovery and realization of their professional vocations. The figure of Peter, who invites us to get up and walk in the name of Christ, becomes a symbol of this renewed ability to face the challenges of life.
The Policoro Project stands as a tangible manifesto of the Christian community’s commitment towards unemployed young people and those who find themselves in precarious or degraded working conditions, providing them with the necessary tools to pursue great aspirations and dreams.
The practical implementation of the project in the participating dioceses takes place through Community Animators, young people trained in the light of the Social Doctrine of the Church and the themes of the civil economy, they are assisted by tutors and diocesan teams, which include ecclesial figures and collaborators of various associations and bodies. These animators become traveling companions of other young people, meeting them in parishes, diocesan offices, schools, universities, associative and social spaces. They accompany those they meet in creating a curriculum vitae, in taking stock of skills, in actively searching for work, in seizing work and training opportunities, in accessing calls for tenders and active employment policies, in drawing up business plans. They help and support those who intend to promote youth entrepreneurship initiatives with a view to subsidiarity, solidarity and legality.
The numerous entrepreneurial and cooperative initiatives born from the impulse of the Policoro Project are living testimonies of how fatalism can be overcome by establishing constructive and productive relationships with the territory.

Project objectives:

The Policoro Project is an organic pastoral tool that aims to develop processes of cultural change inherent to the relationship between young people and work in dioceses.

Its three coordinates are:

– Gospel
the Project promotes the integral fulfillment of the person through work understood as incessant care (of the work) of creation.

– Young
The Project promotes awareness of one’s working vocation by accompanying young people to become protagonists in the territories.

– Work
The Project promotes a vision of free, creative, participatory and supportive work so that human beings express and increase the dignity of their lives. (See EG 192)

The Role of the Policoro Project in the Diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia
Characterized by a complex economic and social fabric and worrying demographic dynamics, the territory of Terni and its province has found in the Policoro Project an important resource to face emerging challenges. The local situation, marked by a significant decrease in the young population and an alarming rate of youth inactivity, as well as a growing migration towards more prosperous areas, highlights the need for targeted interventions and innovative policies.
The statistics outline a 24.8% contraction of the population between 25 and 40 years old, with an exacerbated talent drain and an increase in youth unemployment. This context is aggravated by increasing female unemployment and an industrial crisis that has put the economic fabric of the region to the test.
In response to this situation, the Policoro Project has implemented a series of strategies to stimulate youth employment and promote a constructive work culture. The objective is to transform the crisis into an opportunity, providing young people with the tools to build a solid professional and personal future through training, professional orientation and entrepreneurial development.

Impacts and Prospects of the Policoro Project
The Policoro Project not only works to tackle youth unemployment, but also as a catalyst for social and cultural renewal. Through training and ongoing support, the project aims to reinvent perceptions of work among young people, showing that employment can be a path not only to livelihood, but also to personal fulfillment and contribution to the community.
The creation of spaces for dialogue between young people and local businesses, the promotion of internships and internships, and collaboration with educational institutions are just some of the activities that the Policoro Project has planned for this year. These initiatives are designed to integrate young people into the labor market, proactively responding to their needs and aspirations.
The prospects for the future of the project include the expansion of the support network, the strengthening of collaborations between the different diocesan realities and the promotion of a development model that can be replicated in other similar contexts. The goal is to build a more resilient and inclusive diocesan community, where young people not only find work, but also a sense of belonging and purpose.

The “Tools To Work: Transform your Passion into a Profession” course is starting

Among the activities planned for this year by the diocesan team of the Policoro Project of Terni Narni Amelia, the “Tools To Work” training course will soon begin, a proposal and opportunity of great value for all the young people in our area. This course, designed with care and foresight, aims to provide young people with tangible tools and specific skills for entering the world of work, following Christian values and local needs.
The path to employment for young people will be enriched and detailed through the acquisition of crucial knowledge and skills in the world of work. Experts of proven fame and local success in their respective sectors of reference will guide the students, providing them not only with instructions, but also in-depth visions and strategies that can be applied in their professional future.
Structured into 8 targeted modules, the course will offer participants the opportunity to train free of charge on current issues requested by the job market. In addition to theoretical training, the most deserving members will have the opportunity to have practical paid internship experience at local companies. This possibility will be reserved for those who demonstrate interest during the course and who maintain attendance of more than 80% of the lessons. In this way, the training course not only enriches the wealth of knowledge, but becomes a real springboard for the participants’ future work.
The direct recipients of this path are young people from 19 to 35 years of age, with a good command of the Italian language, looking for a job and who cultivate the desire for personal and professional growth.
The course will be completely free and will take place in the premises adjacent to Sant’Alò in Terni. It will take place over the period from May 22nd to June 11th. Exact dates and times will be announced shortly.

It is already possible to start submitting applications for participation, while places are available.
at this link: https://forms.gle/zW7yrt4dYVtUVab89 or
by framing this QR Code: