Everyone deserves a second chance. However, for those who are or have been in prison, returning to society and work is often marked by isolation, vulnerability, and a lack of real opportunities. Without the right tools, there is a risk that the rehabilitation process will be interrupted at the most delicate moment: reintegration. The D'aRteventi Cultural Association has been working since 2011 to combat these forms of marginalization, promoting the social reintegration of prisoners and ex-prisoners through theater. Over time, it has built a solid network with institutions, schools, universities, and local communities, promoting the cultural traditions of the area and establishing theater as a space for expression, awareness, and change. Since 2016, the Association has also been operating with the support of the Diocesan Caritas of Messina and the Curia of Messina. The “Fil rouge” project, which we have chosen to support, was created to strengthen the re-education process and accompany the social and professional reintegration of 25 prisoners and those serving alternative sentences in the prisons of Messina and Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto. Through theater and art, used as educational and relational tools, the project aims to provide participants with useful skills to deal with the period following their detention, promoting personal autonomy, responsibility, and reducing the risk of recidivism. In particular, it includes theater studies and the production of shows, both inside and outside prisons, opportunities for meeting and discussion with the community to raise awareness of the rehabilitative value of punishment and the importance of welcoming vulnerable people, the activation of work placements in local companies, and psychological support for the prisoners involved and their families. With “Fil rouge,” theater becomes a symbolic and concrete link between the path of imprisonment and a new possibility for the future, because we believe that reintegration comes through dignity, skills, and recognition of the value of each person. Details Location: Messina and Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto Association: Associazione Culturale D’aRteventi Beneficiaries: 25 prisoners and individuals serving alternative sentences Contribution: €100,000 Period: December 2025 – September 2027
