"Pensa in Grande" Dedalus Social Cooperative and power2Cloud have been among active partners for two years in an initiative created to combat educational poverty and school dropout.
Workshops and laboratories on reading, visual arts, journalism and, of course, digital skills, which involved 125 children (79 from the Officine Gomitoli cultural center and 48 from local schools).
This was more than technical training; it was a holistic approach.
The program included orientation courses focused on choices, inner dialogue and emotion management, as well as linguistic-cultural mediation. It was also insightful to analyze and discuss with the participants the transformative impact of this project.
Overcoming challenges and building bridges for the future: Pensa in Grande Overview
For the power2Cloud workshops, two classes took turns in Dedalus' classrooms in Porta Capuana (Naples): 52 students aged 12 to 19 with diverse cultural backgrounds. Their initial curiosity for the course sparked not only skills, but also autonomy, self-esteem and team building.
The power2Cloud team organized and reshaped over time a rich agenda covering digital tools and skills: from computer use (many had never used one before), to Google Workspace applications, continuing with Shopify, Google Business Profile, to creative Canva projects.At the final presentation of the work conducted in the various labs, it was possible to appreciate the transformative journey of all participants.
Beyond boundaries: overcoming obstacles and
creating connections
"Interacting with young people from such diverse backgrounds as Nigeria, Georgia, El Salvador, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Cape Verde, and Cameroon," recalls Alessia Impagliazzo , "was a challenge even for us, who are used to leading change management and training.
The journey, connected to new skills, presented us with some obstacles, such as language barriers, cultural differences and difficulties in accessing digital tools. However, the participants, colleagues and tutors did their best.
That is why we encouraged not only classroom meetings, but also extracurricular outings in the Campania region involving friends and customers, to enrich our time together.
We organized connections with businesses operating in tourism, catering and online sales, promoting knowledge, curiosity and discussion. Digital was a common thread, but also a pretext!"
Google Workspace: shared experiences, kids are the stars
"At first we focused more on content, but then it took a backseat, especially considering that many are not fluent in Italian and, like many young people, are used to only using their mobile phones.
We went well beyond that," Stefano Pisacane continues, "trying to consolidate, in much as we could, bonds and self-esteem, which are crucial for growth.
Working on dictations on shared Google Docs, creating Presentations while listening to interests and stories from their countries, but also learning formulas and calculations with Sheets, gave a new input. They better understood how the digital world works, which is increasingly central in our lives."
Shopify and Canva: creativity and team building
A more creative part involved Shopify and Canva. Playing with cutting, pasting, and rearranging on graphic layouts to propose on eCommerce for online sales sparked enthusiasm.
"What would you like to sell? The kids' answers were really diverse and unexpected," recalls Francesca Grieco. Everyone gave their input.
In addition to GIFs and posters that we created with Canva layouts, the most beautiful product we worked on was the postcards we designed and printed. These reproduced images and motivational phrases (in their original language and then translated) that we offered as a gifts during the ninth edition of "I Protagonisti."
The event, which saw hundreds of attendees in Naples, brought the theme of cultural identity and the role of art as a tool for inclusion, participation and active citizenship to the forefront of public debate.
"Pensa in Grande" shows that true innovation arises when the stories, talents and aspirations of each individual are placed at the center. It's a project that represented a great opportunity for personal growth for the children, who developed empathy, respect for others, and the ability to relate.
