An inclusive perspective across Northern and Southern Italy

The text presents reflections on activities carried out in Italy as part of an international project (RISE) aimed at the inclusion of Roma and Sinti children. The project took place in two different areas, one in the North (Emilia Romagna - Bologna) and one in the South (Apulia- Bari), chosen to broaden the study’s perspectives. The two cities involved (Bologna and Bari) differ in terms of the degree of inclusion of Roma children and existing social policies. The Roma communities in each location are also different. The main action of the project was an action-research involving teachers. This research method can implement a planning-reflexive process that proceeds via exploration and discussion, continuously questioning the knowledge, expertise and competencies of those involved. The educational activities and the school experiences of the Rise Project were carried out according to the action research approach, sharing the goals of the study, its contexts and the activities implemented with the heads and teachers of the schools involved from day one. The actions proposed by the Project, presented and discussed in this paper are : - a training programme for teachers, social workers and ATA staff on inclusive educational methods and on discrimination, intercultural pedagogy and the history of the Roma and Sinti communities; - the participation of local services that oversee actions geared towards Roma children and adolescents facing particular challenges, and their families, in meetings; - the promotion of educational workshops for all students in the classes involved, aimed at social skills, participation or know-how; - the implementation of storytelling workshops for all students in the classes involved, aimed at creating a story that deals with the topics of interculturalism, prejudice, or gender discrimination through the use of animation techniques; - the organisation of a workshop called “Rise English: Connecting with the World”