We know that where opportunities are lacking, inequality, isolation, and fragility grow. It is in these voids that crime finds fertile ground, especially in the most exposed suburbs. In these cases, education, if experienced as a concrete and shared experience, can become the most powerful tool for change. In this context, Antimafia Pop Academy promotes a critical, inclusive, and transformative model of action capable of combating inequality, educational poverty, and marginalization that fuel criminal power. The association works in the most fragile suburbs and territories, building concrete alternatives to hardship and giving a voice back to those who are often deprived of it. Through innovative and participatory educational methodologies, the Academy accompanies young people, families, teachers, and communities on a path of active citizenship and collective awareness. The “Praticare la città” (Practicing the City) project, which we support, promotes an educational model that integrates traditional teaching with non-formal methodologies based on experiential learning. The goal is to support public schools with tools that promote cooperation, creativity, and active participation. The southeastern suburbs of Rome become a living laboratory: streets, squares, and neighborhoods are transformed into educational spaces where students can develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills. The project involves approximately 500 middle school students (20 classes) and 40 teachers from the Enzo Ferrari High School and the Rita Levi Montalcini Comprehensive School. It also includes: a narrative documentation plan shared by educators, teachers, and students; the co-design of multimedia courses with the students; participatory scientific research to validate and make the model replicable. “Praticare la città” is not only an educational project, but also a process of reappropriation of the territory and community empowerment, which restores beauty and livability to neighborhoods and prepares a new generation of active and aware citizens. Details Location: Rome Association: AP Antimafia Pop Academy Beneficiaries: 500 students and 40 teachers Contribution: €100,000 Period: October 2025 – October 2028
