Citizenship, let’s remember: there are almost a million girls and boys in Italy who are not Italian, even if they are Italian in every way

ROMA – There are almost one million pupils with non-Italian citizenship who attend the school: exactly 914,860, male and female students, i.e. 11.2% of the total enrolled students. Just over half are concentrated in the first cycle of education. Of these, 65.4% were born in Italy. Girls, boys and teenagers who have been a constant presence in our school for years now.

Inequalities and obstacles of all kinds. Yet – it is always good to remember this – they are still forced today to know and suffer the consequences of inequalities and obstacles, such as difficulties in taking part in school trips, in cultural exchanges abroad or in sports competitions and, at a later stage, also in access the University or public competitions. The lack of recognition of Italian citizenship also influences their aspirations and future prospects, as well as the sense of belonging to the community and the country.

Lo studio di Save The Children. According to a study carried out by Save the Childrenin 2023 45.5% of Italian students (43.2% for Italian citizens with a migratory background) interviewed believe they can obtain a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or a doctorate, a figure which drops to 35.7% for students from immigrant families without citizenship. These results show how minors with a migratory background, if recognized as citizens, tend to develop expectations and aspirations equivalent to those of their peers born in Italy.

That never feeling like you’re part of a school. Furthermore, 17.9% of these students without Italian citizenship say they never or almost never feel part of the school, a percentage that drops to 13.8% for students with a migratory background and with Italian citizenship and to 10.6% for peers with both Italian parents. Furthermore, among minors from immigrant families, those who have obtained Italian citizenship feel closer to Italy (18.5%) and closer to their neighborhood (26%) and city (18%) than foreign minors without Italian citizenship (respectively 14%; 21.5%; 13%).

Aspirations and expectations. Further research carried out by Save the Children between 2023 and 2024, in terms of aspirations and expectations, it showed how 58.7% of adolescents with a migratory background wish to move abroad in the future (compared to 34.9% of 15-16 year olds of Italian origin), a fact that cannot help but reflect on the risk of losing resources, knowledge and skills in the coming years if the necessary change does not occur.

Today the event on citizenship rights. The event “Law and citizenship rights: what space for boys and girls?”, promoted by Save the Childrentakes place today in Rome at Palazzo Santa Chiara.

The participants. After the initial greeting from Daniela Fatarella, general director of the Organization, Daniela Ionita (Italians without citizenship), Basma Aissa (IDEM Network), Maali Atila Sarih (CoNNGI – National Coordination of New Italian Generations), Hon. Ouidad Bakkali participate among others (PD), Hon. Vittoria Baldino (M5S), Mario Battiato Musmeci (School director IC Gandhi of Prato), Ennio Codini (ISMU Foundation), Sen. Graziano Delrio (PD), Sara Funaro (Mayor of Florence), Andrea Iacomini ( UNICEF Italy Spokesperson), Stefano Lo Russo (Mayor of Turin – video message), Cristina Molfetta (Migrantes Foundation), Sen. Raffaella Paita (IV – video message), Hon. Paolo Emilio Russo (FI), Hon. Luana Zanella (AVS). There will also be a testimony from the Youth Movement for Save the Children. Giorgia D’Errico, Director of Public Affairs & Institutional Relations of the Organization will conclude. The meeting was moderated by Diego Motta, journalist from Avvenire.