When an area is hit by a disaster such as an earthquake, it is not only houses and monuments that collapse, but also people's lives, habits and daily routines. In an instant, everything that was familiar and safe turns into a painful memory. The road to reconstruction is long and arduous, made up of hope and determination. The most fragile and isolated people are the ones who suffer the most, often finding themselves without resources or support. It is in these moments that solidarity and humanity become essential to restore light and warmth to those who have lost everything. For more than 40 years ActionAid has been committed to tackling the causes of poverty and social injustice, based on three pillars: rights, redistribution and social resilience, around which programs are developed and implemented in Italy and abroad. The project we support together is called “RETI - Riattivazione - Empowerment - Territorio - Innovazione”, and it aims to counter the socioeconomic poverty of the population living in the territories of Marche and Lazio affected by the 2016 earthquake. What is a network? It is a support system, a parachute, a weave, an embrace. A collection of people who together work for others: this is the RETI project, which specifically targets women, youth and NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in vulnerable conditions. The project acts in three ways: first, it makes both public and private territorial services more accessible by improving their usability through an itinerant and home-based outreach service. Second, it supports and directs women, young people and NEETs in vocational training paths for access to the labor market through so-called inclusion grants, i.e., economic support that covers the expenses necessary for attendance (from transportation costs to childcare expenses, such as daycare or babysitting services). In parallel, it provides an accompanying path for the creation of a community cooperative by young people under 35. Finally, it implements recreational and aggregative activities aimed at children, youth and families, such as playdates, children's workshops, and sports events. Because after a disaster, it is not only necessary to rebuild houses, stores and schools: it is necessary to rebuild a community. And that is what projects like RETI strive to do, day after day. Details Location: Marche and Lazio Association: ActionAid Beneficiaries: 500 people including women, NEETs, youth, children and families Contribution: 190,000 euros Period: April 2023 - March 2025
