Projects in progress

Involved faculty: Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences
Campus: Piacenza
Project coordinator: Professor Tito Caffi

The “Sustainable urban gardens” project is a Service Learning initiative designed to promote the understanding and dissemination of sustainable practices in urban gardening. The students involved participate in the management of the Gasparini gardens at Educatt, applying crop rotation techniques and sustainable farming practices.

In addition to managing the gardens, the student group supports the organization and implementation of awareness-raising activities during the garden’s public open days, which are aimed at students and the local community. The goal is to spread the principles of sustainability and food security.

Furthermore, the students will be called to provide service and assist Educatt staff during the summer camp, which will be held at the Piacenza campus and is targeted at children and teenagers aged 6 to 14. This experience will allow them to apply the skills they have acquired, managing aspects related to crop rotation planning, succession, and sustainable farming practices.

Service Learning objectives

• Deepen the understanding of crop rotation and succession practices.
• Gain hands-on experience in planning and managing agricultural activities.
• Share the project’s concepts with peers (students from other faculties) and the local community (summer camp participants and residents).

Duration and organization

The project runs from April to July 2025, with a weekly commitment of 4 hours. Student activities are organized in alternating groups, based on the farming needs and characteristics of the project.

Involved faculty: Psychology
Campus: Brescia
Project coordinators: Professor Livia Cadei; Professor Emanuele Serrelli

The project involves a group of students from the General Pedagogy course in the activities of the Perlar association, which works with homeless individuals in Brescia. The mission of the association is to promote and strengthen the social networks of these individuals by offering cultural and recreational activities, including:

• The gathering place "Riparo"
• The second-hand market "Poco conto," managed by volunteers and homeless individuals
• Workshops aimed at the same population

The students support the operators and volunteers in carrying out these various initiatives and, in parallel, engage in a process of reflection on their formative experience by writing a thematic reflective diary and participating in discussions both at the University and with the Perlar staff. At the end of the project, an evaluation will be conducted through interviews with the participants.

Service Learning objectives

The learning experience focuses on the following content:

• Pedagogical themes and concepts: relationship, educational distance, symmetry/asymmetry, emancipation, tradition/innovation, autonomy/dependence, education/formation/animation.
• Elements of reflective thinking: observation, doubt, question, experimentation, comparison and language, hypotheses, concrete/abstract, play/work.
• Training methodologies: context analysis, design, management, communication, teamwork, evaluation.
• Sense-making: values, gift, utopia, universalism, volunteering, inclusion, social participation.

Duration and Organization

The activities will take place from March to May 2025, with students organized in pairs and involved on several afternoons per week. The project spans the duration of the General Pedagogy course.

Involved Faculty: Education
Campus: Brescia
Project coordinator: Professor Paola Zini

The project involves a group of students at the Youth center of Chiari, located within the town's parish. The students are engaged in two educational settings: the nursery "La casa di Alice" and the toy library, which provides an after-school service for children and adolescents from primary and lower secondary school.

During the experience, students will have the opportunity to apply and deepen pedagogical topics discussed in class, such as relationships, communication, and empathy, while also developing specific professional skills, including observation, project planning, and documentation. The experience gained will be discussed in class as a moment and opportunity for shared reflection.

Service Learning objectives

• Deepen the understanding of the educational and pedagogical needs of childhood and adolescence.
• Explore the theme of parental support.
• Conduct educational activities for children aged 0-3.
• Conduct activities with children and adolescents (6-13 years old).
• Observe peer relationship dynamics.
• Develop documentation skills.
• Enhance relational competencies.

Duration and organization

The activity will take place from late March to late May 2025, with weekly meetings one morning or afternoon, during which 2-3 students will alternate in managing activities at the facility.

Involved faculty: Education
Campus: Brescia
Project coordinator: Professor Paola Zini

The project involves a group of students in a Service Learning experience at Casa Ozanam - Casa San Vincenzo, a facility that hosts mothers and children in vulnerable situations.

After designing the activities in class to meet the needs of the service and the people it hosts, the students apply what they have learned in the field, collaborating with the professionals at the facility to implement the interventions.

Service Learning objectives

• Deepen the understanding of the educational and pedagogical needs of childhood and adolescence.
• Explore the support for parenting.
• Experiment with concrete ways to support families.

Duration and organization

The activity will take place from late March to late May 2025, with weekly meetings one or two afternoons a week, during which 2-3 students will alternate in managing the activities at the facility.

Involved faculty: Education
Campus: Piacenza
Project coordinator: Professor Michela Valotti

The project is part of the exhibition "Esse Potest. Compresenze impossibili," the edition of this year's "Itinerari di Arte e Spiritualità" initiative, promoted by the Pastoral Centre of Milan and the Department of History, Archaeology, and History of Art at the University of Milan, in collaboration with CREA (Centre for Research in Education through Art and Cultural Heritage Mediation). The event, which takes place every spring at the campuses of the Università Cattolica, represents an important opportunity for interaction between art, education, and the community.

The Service Learning activity involves some students from the Primary Education Degree Program at the Piacenza campus in a situated learning experience, where they are actively engaged in the planning and implementation of the exhibition while simultaneously putting into practice the disciplinary content learned during their studies.

The students work closely with the artist Enrica Borghi, who is the guest of the installation at the Piacenza venue. She explores environmental sustainability themes through the use of recycled materials. Her art serves as a starting point to stimulate reflection on the relationship between humans and the environment in educational terms. This offers students the opportunity to engage in coaching and laboratory activities for exhibition visitors, particularly aimed at the university community and local kindergarten and primary school students.

Service Learning objectives

The general objective is to acquire skills in artistic and cultural mediation, which are broken down into the following activities:

• Explore the backstage of an exhibition, understanding the curatorial process, communication, catalog creation, and exhibition setup.
• Collaborate with the exhibition curators and the artist to develop the exhibition project.
• Build relationships with local cultural and educational institutions, such as schools, to promote the event to the community and specific audiences.
• Design and implement educational interventions (guided tours, workshops) to mediate the exhibition's content and the messages conveyed by artistic language.
• Personally experience leading guided tours and workshops during the exhibition's opening, putting educational skills into practice.
• Reflect on the effectiveness of the proposed educational activities, analyzing the impact on the audience.

Duration and organization

The project is divided into several phases:

• October – November 2024: Presentation of the project in the classroom, with an intervention by the exhibition curators.
• November 2024 – February 2025: Phase of assisting with the design, which includes defining the exhibition concept, studying the artist’s works, selecting materials, and planning the setup.
• March – April 2025: Implementation of educational activities and conducting workshops during the exhibition’s opening period.

Each student is expected to dedicate a total of approximately 20 hours, divided into 10 hours assisting with curating and 10 hours for implementing educational activities within the exhibition.

Involved faculty: Education
Campus: Brescia
Project coordinator: Professor Alessandra Gerolin

Now in its third edition, the project involves a group of university students in activities carried out by the Taivè tailoring workshop in Milan, an initiative promoted by Caritas Ambrosiana that offers training and employment opportunities for women in vulnerable situations.

The students visit the workshop and work alongside the women engaged in the activities, involving them in a narrative ethics project aimed at raising awareness and sharing the path of emancipation they have embarked on, particularly in light of the work they are doing. The students are tasked with addressing the need for recognition expressed by the women involved in the project, supporting them in telling their stories of personal and professional growth.

The outcomes of this critical self-awareness and moral development process will be shared by the women of Taivè themselves, with the support of the students and some faculty from the pedagogical field, during a concluding event at the via della Garzetta campus, in Brescia. The event will take place in May 2025 and will feature the participation of social actors and representatives from local associations in the Brescia area.

Additionally, the students and the seamstresses of Taivè will take part in the FAI event "Seta. Sul filo di una storia", which will be held at Palazzo Moroni (Bergamo) in May 2025. During this event, they will set up a creative mending workshop for visitors, aiming to communicate and share the journey they have undertaken through the Service Learning project. At the same time, a roundtable discussion will be held inside the same Palazzo to explore the theme of emancipation and critical awareness.

Service Learning objectives

• Testing the philosophical skills acquired in the development of capabilities and substantial freedoms;
• Supporting the women in recognizing their journey through vulnerability, using narrative ethics to achieve self-awareness and recognition of their value;
• Supporting the development of desire through the practice of dialogue;
• Supporting emancipatory action and awareness of potential challenges.

Duration and organization

The university students are involved in supporting the women at the Taivè workshop for three days in April 2025, for a total of 9 hours.

Involved faculty: Mathematical, physical and natural sciences
Campus: Brescia
Project coordinators: Professor Giulia Giantesio; Professor Stefania Pagliara

The project, now in its third edition, involves a group of students from the Faculty of Mathematical, physical, and natural sciences in a civic education initiative on the use of the web, coordinated by the social cooperative "Il Calabrone" in collaboration with the Municipality of Brescia. This initiative targets secondary schools (both first and second levels) in the area.

The university students, drawing on their knowledge of probability theory, engage in designing fun, workshop-based activities around the theme of gambling in online video games and apps. These activities are proposed to entire classes or student groups. Through enjoyable and engaging games, the aim is to stimulate the curiosity of the students and debunk myths and beliefs about the concept of "likely winnings."

Service Learning objectives

The "service" objectives of the project are aimed at preventing the use and abuse of gambling through the development of mathematical and statistical skills and raising awareness about the use of certain websites and/or apps. Furthermore, the experience of playing games in small groups aims to encourage interaction and collaboration among students, shift their perception of mathematics, and improve their confidence in their own abilities, thanks to a more practical approach to the subject.

Alongside these, the "learning" objectives for the university students are:

• To communicate mathematical concepts clearly and effectively using a hands-on approach;
• To organize stimulating and flexible learning environments;
• To learn how to relate to young students, respecting their pace and learning needs;
• To design customized educational activities for each group of students;
• To manage learning groups effectively.

Duration and organization

The design phase will take place in November and December 2024, while the activities in the secondary schools will occur in March 2025, for a total of 40 hours.

Involved faculty Mathematical, physical and natural sciences
Campus: Brescia
Project coordinators: Professor Stefania Pagliara; Professor Giulia Giantesio

The project, now in its sixth edition, involves a group of university students in creating a workshop and recreational program focused on mathematics, aimed at secondary school students hospitalized in the Pediatrics departments of the Spedali Civili of Brescia and the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo. The context of the intervention is the "School in hospital" (Scuola in ospedale - SiO) setting.

The university students have the opportunity to deepen the topics covered in their studies through practical activities that also require relational and educational skills.

The proposed workshops aim to promote curiosity and logical thinking through mathematical games and physics experiments, in which young patients are encouraged to reflect, find solutions, and, most importantly, develop a passion for research and scientific discoveries.

Service Learning objectives

The "service" objectives of the project, shared with the SiO teachers, are aimed at promoting positive thinking and curiosity in hospitalized students, fostering interaction and collaboration with peers, and boosting confidence in their mathematical and physical abilities, thanks to an approach that combines practice and fun.

Alongside these, the "learning" objectives for the university students are:

• To communicate mathematical and physical content clearly and effectively, using a hands-on approach;
• To organize dynamic and flexible learning environments;
• To relate empathetically to the young patients, respecting their time and vulnerabilities;
• To design personalized educational interventions based on individual needs;
• To learn how to effectively manage learning groups.

Duration and organization

The activities are designed by the university students during November and December 2024, while the practical sessions in the hospital departments will take place in March and April 2025, totaling 40 hours.

Involved faculty: Economics and Law
Campus: Piacenza
Project coordinators: Professor Roberta Casiraghi; Professor Francesco Centonze; Professor Priscilla Bertelloni

This project is the result of a collaboration between the University and the Piacenza Correctional Facility. It is structured into two main phases:

1. Front office activities: University students, adequately trained and accompanied by a faculty supervisor, enter the correctional facility to collect requests from inmates.
2. Analysis and research activities: At the University, participating students examine the legal issues raised, identify best practices, and, where possible, draft legal petitions. They work in groups, sharing their experiences and conducting legal and jurisprudential research.

The project also includes opportunities for discussion with the Interuniversity Center "L'altro diritto" and other legal clinics operating in various Italian prisons. These meetings allow for an analysis of the results achieved, reflection on the objectives met and challenges encountered, and improvements to the educational path offered to students.

Service Learning objectives

• The project provides students with an experiential learning opportunity aimed at:
• Deepening their theoretical and practical knowledge of criminal law.
• Developing practical skills in criminal procedure law.
• Gaining direct exposure to the prison system.
• Acquiring expertise in drafting legal documents.
• Experiencing a formative journey on both a human and social level.
• Applying their skills to support a vulnerable group, offering listening and assistance to inmates.
• Overcoming prejudices and stereotypes associated with individuals deprived of their liberty.

Duration and organization

The project spans an entire academic year, starting in late September 2025 and concluding in late July 2025. Students, organized into rotating shifts, alternate between a two-hour session in prison and a one-and-a-half-hour session in the classroom.

Involved faculty: Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures
Campus: Brescia
Project coordinator: Dr. Enrica Peracin

The project, now in its second edition, involves a group of students enrolled in the "Chinese Language and Culture" course in a linguistic support activity for Chinese-speaking pupils attending primary and lower secondary school at the Arici School Institute in Brescia.

To ensure continuity and systematic monitoring of learning outcomes while fostering relationships, each university student follows the educational journey of a Chinese-speaking pupil, offering individualized and personalized interventions based on specific needs. Activities include support for literacy and linguistic mediation during curricular hours, as well as assistance with homework during extracurricular hours.

Service Learning objectives

• Apply knowledge of the Chinese language and culture in an extracurricular activity aimed at the literacy development of Chinese-speaking students;
• Enhance Chinese language proficiency through dialogue with Chinese-speaking pupils and the preparation of teaching materials;
• Reflect on the interaction between Chinese and Italian linguistic structures in Chinese-speaking learners;
• Actively collaborate with university professors and staff from the host institution;
• Build an active and productive relationship with the Chinese-speaking students benefiting from the service to deliver it effectively and engagingly;
• Citizenship skills: Develop a greater awareness of the real challenges faced by Chinese children in integrating into the school and social community. Experience being promoters of acts of hospitality, support, and openness (to cultural diversity) capable of positively shaping the perception of Italian society by the Chinese children involved in the project.

Duration and organization

Activities take place from October to December 2024. The time commitment required from university students ranges from 3 to 5 hours per week, for a maximum total of 25 hours.

Involved faculty: Psychology
Campus: Brescia
Project coordinator: Professor Livia Cadei

This project, now in its second edition, involves a group of female students who will participate in activities at a reception center for refugees, managed by the Kemay social cooperative and located next to the Via della Garzetta campus in Brescia.

The students will work alongside and support the staff in both planning and carrying out the daily activities organized by the center, as well as in developing initiatives aimed at raising awareness, fostering socialization, and facilitating interaction. These initiatives aim to support the inclusion of refugees and increase their visibility in the local neighborhood.

Service Learning objectives

• Promote understanding of issues related to immigration dynamics;
• Engage in direct interaction with others and contribute to the organization of activities supporting reception and integration, applying both personal and developing professional skills;
• Reflect on the significance of intercultural experiences and the dimensions of social integration.

Duration and organization

The activities take place from October to December 2024, spanning a total of 10 weeks. Student participation is required during specific time slots, three days a week.