Positive results after one year for the project “The School that Cares – Programs for psychological support and the prevention of school dropout in Sardinia” , which since September 2024 has involved the Pertini Biasi and San Donato institutes in Sassari , the Thiesi comprehensive institute , the 17th Circle and the Ugo Foscolo State Middle School in Cagliari .
Promoted by the Rome-based Rete per il Sociale ETS and funded by the Intesa San Paolo Charity Fund, the project directly addresses the causes of school dropout to prevent and curb it in Sardinia, the region most affected by the phenomenon not only nationally but also across Europe. A region where the percentage of young people who drop out early reaches 17.3 percent, a staggering figure compared to the national average of around 10.5 percent. Meanwhile, the UN 2030 Strategy sets a European-wide target of reducing this rate to 9 percent.
The core of the project was working with children and young people: 390 students participated in workshops and classroom activities aimed at developing self-awareness, managing emotions and stress, and strengthening peer relationships. In preschool, focus was placed on motor development, body awareness, and basic emotions. In primary and secondary schools, emotional literacy programs, mindfulness practices, and study support were introduced.
The project, which also involved 91 teachers and 100 parents in specific training courses, relied on highly qualified medical and healthcare professionals who have been at the forefront of specific learning disabilities for years through "Teacher and Parent Training" programs in collaboration with the ReTe ETS association. The various professionals involved include a cognitive behavioral psychotherapist, psychologists, and neurologists. The Passaparola Social Cooperative of Cagliari and the social services of the Municipality of Banari collaborated with Rete.
