Calabria youth inclusion voucher program

In mid‑July 2026 the Territorial Social Authority of Lamezia Terme began the "La mia estate" initiative, allocating €107,143 from the National Social Policies Fund to issue vouchers of up to €3,000 per child (ages 6‑19) for educational, recreational, sports and inclusion activities, with a special focus on children and teenagers with disabilities. The city also launched a two‑day training programme for social‑work professionals to strengthen support for vulnerable groups.

A few weeks later, the Calabria regional government expanded the scheme, issuing a public call for third‑sector organisations, social cooperatives and qualified operators to become accredited providers across multiple municipalities, including Crotone, Belvedere Spinello, Cutro, Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Rocca di Neto, San Mauro Marchesato and Scandale. Regional assessors highlighted the programme as a concrete affirmation of inclusion, and municipal officials defended the 17 August accreditation deadline as a strategic advantage, ensuring families can choose from a full roster of providers.

Together, the two updates trace the rollout from a city‑level launch and training effort to a region‑wide call for service providers, signalling the scaling up of the voucher system to cover more municipalities and streamline provider accreditation.