Social initiatives launched in Catania and Naples to support marginalized groups

New social welfare projects have been inaugurated in Catania and Naples to support vulnerable populations and promote rehabilitation.

In Catania, the Caritas diocesan Help Center has reopened following renovations. Located near the central station, the multifunctional hub aims to combat poverty and marginalization. Key updates include transitioning the canteen service from dinner to lunch in collaboration with a local hotel management institute, expanding healthcare and shower facilities, and introducing afternoon services such as microcredit assistance, workshops, and community cinema. The center serves homeless individuals, migrants, and those in extreme poverty.

In Naples, the “Brigata Caterina” project has been established to facilitate the professional training and reintegration of inmates and former inmates. The initiative involves transforming the Santa Caterina de’ Celani Chapel in the historic center into a social pizzeria. This program, supported by the Naples Curia, the Municipality of Naples, and judicial authorities, aims to teach pizza-making skills to inmates from the Secondigliano prison, providing a bridge between incarceration and dignified employment.