Italy is our home. It has always been our dream to open a Still I Rise school there. 

We work in countries where access to public schools is extremely limited for vulnerable and refugee children. In Italy this is not the case, yet one only has to look at the data to see that schools in Italy are facing a real emergency.

• SCHOOL DROPOUTS. 1 in 7 students in Italy does not make it to graduation. Italy is among the firsts for dropouts in the European Union. (Source: La Stampa, Ansa)
• LANGUAGE SKILLS. 1 in 4 15-year-olds cannot understand a text of basic complexity.Italy is 11 points below the average of OECD countries. (Source: Il Sole 24 ore)
• SATISFACTION LEVEL. Below 50% for teachers, pupils and even parents. Italy is third to last in Europe. (Source: Save the Children)
• LEVEL OF ANXIETY. Italian students rank first among the most anxious in the world. Italy is at the top of the OECD rankings for stress at school desks. (Source: Il Messaggero, Repubblica)
• TEACHER TRAINING. 75% percent of Italian teachers have not attended training courses in the school where they teach after qualifying. The OECD average is 58%. (Source: UNICATT)
• INVESTMENT IN SCHOOLS. Italy is 121st in the world. (Source: Il sole 24 ore)

We want to open an International School of the highest level, where refugee and vulnerable Italian students can become the leaders of tomorrow.

We don't want to replace public schools, but we want to do what we can to improve them. We owe it to our boys and girls, and to all teachers.

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