CASA APERTA CASA DHO: LIFE PATHS TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a particular impact on younger generations, leading in many cases to increased social withdrawal among adolescents and young adults.
The Casa Aperta Casa Dho project. Life Paths to Open Up to the Future deploys the diverse range of interventions available to NATUR& to strengthen the life skills of the young people welcomed into the Casa Aperta Casa Dho educational community, while simultaneously testing an intervention model that can be replicated for young people from other social contexts. This support aims to provide the stability necessary to then face the world of work with its usual demands.

Specifically, the project includes:

• individual art therapy sessions aimed at healing personal wounds and increasing awareness in managing one’s emotions through the practice and exploration of painting, manual, and expressive techniques, with the goal of creating a new “artistic object” at each session (No. 5);
• individual psychotherapy programs to process traumatic experiences, positively manage life in the community, and navigate the broader network of relationships to which each participant belongs (3 sessions);
• social volunteer projects with local organizations to build skills and self-esteem, and foster positive relationships with individuals, groups, and the entire community (2 projects).

In addition to these programs for young women facing particular socio-economic difficulties, support is provided to cover extraordinary healthcare expenses and specific initiatives aimed at achieving independent living, such as assistance with the costs of obtaining a driver’s license (No. 5).

By the end of these programs, we expect that of the 10 young women in the community, at least 4 will have gained work experience, and that the other 6 will have consolidated the educational path they have undertaken, subsequently following the example of the older girls into the workforce.