When a family receives a diagnosis of autism for their child, they often find themselves alone, without adequate services and without the tools to face the future. Every child, however, has the right to specialist care and a personalized educational path that helps them develop their potential. The Comunità Progetto Sud was founded in Lamezia Terme in 1976 by Don Giacomo Panizza, who was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by President Mattarella in 2023 for his extraordinary commitment to defending the rights of vulnerable people and promoting a culture of legality. For almost fifty years, the Community has been a social and cultural reference point in Calabria: it addresses the challenges of disability, youth distress, addiction, migration, and women in difficulty, building inclusion, work, and social entrepreneurship in a land marked by strong contradictions. In 2017, the Community established a Psycho-Educational Center for autism. It is the first local diagnostic center for neurodevelopmental disorders that provides targeted interventions to promote early diagnosis and timely treatment, improving the developmental trajectory of people with autism. Today, the Center follows 25 children and young people, aged 18 months to 18 years, with individualized therapeutic programs that include: personalized rehabilitation programs intensive weekly sessions external supervision parent training for parental support sharing the therapeutic project with the school. The service, which has so far been guaranteed thanks to private donations and contributions from families, is in the process of being accredited by the Calabria Region. To address this transition period and ensure the continuity of the Center's work, we have chosen to support this important project. The requested contribution covers part of the costs of the human resources involved, thus ensuring the continuity of the service for the 25 children cared for each year. Details Location: Lamezia Terme Association: Comunità Progetto Sud Beneficiaries: 25 children and young people per year Contribution: €125,000 Period: September 2024 – September 2025
