Giugno in ASCS: un mese di feste, incontri e formazione
“The World at Home” Comes to an End
The tenth edition of Il Mondo in Casa came to a close on June 19, following five evenings that brought together all our friends from previous years. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, the four continents took turns organizing the welcome ceremony, cultural presentations, dinner, music, and fashion shows. Following the opening night and the “Earth” theme night in May, June featured the “Fire,” “Water,” and finally “Air” theme nights.
Thank you to everyone who participated! Seeing about 130 people at each event was truly moving—proof that sharing a meal together helps us understand how diversity is an extraordinary treasure.
Happy Birthday, Casa Scalabrini!
In June, Casa Scalabrini 634 celebrated its eleventh anniversary and hosted a big party. Through encounters with former residents, friends, donors, volunteers, and many others, one can truly understand how a welcoming home changes the world. The stories of the people who pass through these walls continue to intertwine and inspire one another.
Special thanks to Gianluca Dicandia and Father Gabriele Beltrami for organizing the “Crossover” event that took place at the beginning of the festival, dedicated to the new European Pact. Thanks also to Rita Urbano for organizing the children’s workshop, and to all the volunteers.
In Rome: Sports, Events, and Books
“The Everyday Nature of Goodness,” a book about Father Maestrelli
A book presentation was held on Father Roberto Maestrelli, a Scalabrinian missionary who dedicated his entire life to evangelization and the establishment of communities. Thanks to him, we were able to trace the history of the Scalabrinians and their missions around the world.
Following the book presentation, there will be a barbecue open to all event participants. The chefs and grill masters will be the students from Casa Scalabrini 634.
Ri-diamo: Standing with the Homeless
In June as well, ASCS continued its collaboration with Salesian volunteers, contributing to the outreach program for the homeless that takes place every Friday in the area around Termini Station. This street outreach is a valuable opportunity for staff and the young people at the center to be active citizens in Rome.
In Milan, Where Hospitality Is Expressed Through Language
The End of Classes and the Start of Exams
The annual Italian language course came to an end in June. Thanks to the dedication of the volunteer teachers, the program covered levels A1 through A2 in five classes meeting twice a week. This year, the project took a significant step forward: in addition to the standard literacy and conversation lessons, the teachers guided and prepared the more advanced students to take the exams for official A2 and B1 level certifications.
Intercultural Activities: Meetings, Explorations, and Training
An exploratory journey through the Metapontino region
A group from ASCS, together with the Ausiliatrici Sisters, organized an exploratory trip to the Metapontino area, in the province of Matera, to gain firsthand knowledge of a region that is rarely discussed but where illegal labor recruitment is widespread. Amid the fields of strawberries, apricots, and watermelons cultivated by foreign workers, the group met with Father Antonio from the diocesan Migrantes organization, Simone and Piero from Flai CGIL and the Tutti Migranti association, as well as a farm in Scanzano Jonico committed to improving working conditions and reducing the environmental impact of cultivation. The tour concluded in Montescaglioso and Matera, with discussions with local organizations working on the issue and a meeting with the city’s bishop. The initiative is part of Focus Metaponto, an ASCS youth outreach project carried out in collaboration with the Ausiliatrici Sisters, which will continue to explore the issues of agricultural labor and exploitation in the region.
An exploratory journey through Capitanata
A group of ASCS volunteers traveled to Capitanata for a two-day exploratory trip in preparation for the “Attraverso Foggia 2026” camp scheduled for July. Welcomed by the staff at the Don Bosco Village in Lucera, the volunteers began to outline the week’s program together, sharing their thoughts on the central themes of the trip. Through meetings and site visits, they were able to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of labor exploitation of migrants, an issue that continues to affect this area of Puglia.
Crossover
In collaboration with the Quore Association, the latest Crossover26 meeting was held in Turin. During Pride Month, the event focused on exploring the connection between migration and belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community. Thanks to Sophie Brunodet of the Quore Association, who paid close attention to cultural diversity, the event highlighted gender roles and the intersectionality of the challenges faced by queer migrants. The vibrant scene in Turin was showcased, along with its safe spaces and support networks, such as social housing projects. The meeting was enriched by the testimony of Natasha, who has personally experienced the challenges discussed.
The Game
As part of CasADO ( Teen Camp), a summer initiative organized by the Santa Caterina Pastoral Community in Besana in Brianza, a group of young men and women played “The Game” as part of an awareness-raising program on the topics of migration, human rights, and global citizenship, during their discernment process leading up to their decision to become youth leaders.
The Game also took place in Malta, in collaboration with Christian Life Community and MOAS, as part of Refugee Week organized by Dance Beyond Borders. It was a very interesting opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, allowing ASCS to introduce other Maltese organizations to Youth Animation in Italy and the camp held in October 2025 in Malta.
Popoli Insieme: Training, Exchange, and Planning
In early June, the Popoli Insieme office in Padua hosted a two-day training session for teams from ASCS and the Padua-based association. The first day was dedicated to working with the younger generation and foreign communities and began with a presentation of ASCS’s Remix project, followed by workshops on crucial topics such as intergenerational dynamics, gender, and mapping emotional distress among youth. The second day was dedicated to the educational tools that both organizations use in their respective contexts. The event concluded with a workshop on theater and multiculturalism.
Volunteering: New Beginnings and Stories That Continue
ASCS volunteers continue to depart
In June, ASCS volunteers continue to depart for our projects around the world, including Ceuta, Calais, and other places where ASCS makes a difference. We extend our thanks to all of you for the time you have chosen to give. Have a safe journey and a fulfilling time in the field!
If you’d like to join this network and be part of the ASCS experience, find out how to become a volunteer at ascs.it/become-a-volunteer and fill out our orientation questionnaire.
“Fragments of (South) Africa”: A Book Born Out of Volunteer Work
On June 19, during the final evening of the *Il Mondo in Casa 2026* project, the book *Fragments of (South) Africa: Stories and Faces of Johannesburg*, written by ASCS volunteers Chiara Granata and Federico Parolo, was presented. The book was conceived within the walls of the Scalabrinian Mission at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in La Rochelle, Johannesburg, and brings together a mosaic of testimonies, perspectives, and encounters in the heart of the “Rainbow Nation.” Through the words of friends, acquaintances, South Africans, and migrants, the book allows South Africa itself to tell its story, painting a portrait made up of fierce contradictions and moving moments of brotherhood. Each fragment collected is a piece of humanity that joins the others in a mosaic of joys, sorrows, struggles, and hopes.
With a minimum donation of €15, you can pre-order the book and support ASCS’s projects—a gesture of solidarity to continue building bridges and fostering a welcoming environment.
Your 5×1000 to ASCS
Imagine being sick and having no words to say it. Wasi is the ASCS project that offers free psychological support for migrant women in Italy with native-speaking psychologists. Because speaking in one’s own language is not a detail: it is the bridge that makes healing possible.
With your signature, you build bridges. ASCS Tax ID Number: 03133600241
Scopri come la tua firma trasforma la tua dichiarazione dei redditi in un gesto di accoglienza e integrazione. Leggi alcune storie dal progetto Wasi.
