Multicultural Society - Challenges And Good Practices For Work With Young Migrants: Case Study Italy

Within the Italian context, unaccompanied migrant children are often young teens, close to 18 years old, in need of work and economic inclusion. In 2017, most of them were 17 years old (55.2%), followed by those of 16 years old (26.6%), and 15 years old (10.4%). Transition to adulthood is often a difficult and challenging process, a time during which they move from the status and rights of childhood and care towards uncertainty, adulthood and responsibility. During this time, they are in the process of cultural, intellectual, physical, psychological and social development. A more gentle transition period for those reaching the age of majority could help better prepare them for life ahead and reduce the risk that these children find themselves unemployed and without any support network. Moreover, for those who have arrived in Italy at 16 or 17 years old, they may not have received sufficient support by the time that they are required to leave reception facilities to ensure their effective integration into Italian society. In the theoretical part, we will present current situation regarding unaccompanied minors and their transition into adulthood, including good practices identified in the area. In the research part, we will analyze the results of the workshops for unaccompanied minors and young adults, organized in Taranto and Bari in 2019 in frame of project CiSoTRA. Analysis will mainly focus on what are the needs of UAM and young adults, ‘how do they see the system’ and what in their opinion shall still be improved.