L.E.S.S. - LOTTA ALL'ESCLUSIONE SOCIALE PER LA SOSTENIBILITA' E LA TUTELA DEI DIRITTI - SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA SOCIALE A R.L. - ENTE DEL TERZO SETTORE

L.E.S.S. - LOTTA ALL’ESCLUSIONE SOCIALE PER LA SOSTENIBILITÀ E LA TUTELA DEI DIRITTI - Società Cooperativa Sociale a r.l. - Ente del Terzo Settore is active from 1999 in the area of Naples (South Italy) to fight social exclusion and marginalization, and to promote active citizenship and strive for the full recognition of migrants’ identity. It promotes and organizes educational programs regarding humanitarian and civil rights and has created several cooperation projects with service providers, other private social organizations and migrant communities in the area of Naples, creating an extensive support network for integration. During the years, LESS has implemented several projects aimed at realizing the social and cultural integration of people with fewer opportunities. Mediation services, educational activities, actions against exclusion and discrimination, social researches were carried out. LESS cooperates with public authorities (Prefettura, Questura, Comune di Napoli), academia (Università Federico II, Università Parthenope, Università Orientale) and civil society organization (Dedalus, CIDIS, Le Kassandre, ARCI) in promoting network research, capacity building and activities aiming at social and professional inclusion and empowerment of disadvantaged people, in particular youth and women. Since 2004 LESS manages migrant reception and integration projects: I.A.R.A. and A.I.D.A., part of the National network of Sistema di Protezione per Richiedenti Asilo e Rifugiati - S.P.R.A.R. (Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees https://www.sprar.it/english); C.A.S. (Centri di Accoglienza Straordinaria) projects; taking place in the Metropolitan Area of Napoli and providing services to over 250 people. LESS provides specific support programmes to vulnerable individuals, and developed expertise in taking charge of migrant women victims of human trafficking. LESS realizes awareness campaigns, festivals and activities concerning education on human rights for the citizenship, youth and school students, civil servants. In particular, it promotes debates and activities on the following topics: intercultural dialogue, active citizenship, gender and cultural discrimination and violence, youth and women empowerment. LESS facilitators and social operators use non-formal and informal education methodology, and practical workshops directly involving students, professors and civil servants. Every year LESS implements 2 educational programmes (PON, funded by Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research) at secondary schools targeting 50 students (12-14 years old) concerning civil and social rights, gender violence and social inclusion. Since 2018 LESS contributes in assistance to be given to the the social reintegration of former prisoners. In this field, for three years, LESS has been short-listed for the voluntary associations and ONLUS authorized to active for the Campania Region Guarantor of people deprived of liberty and for the Guarantor for childhood and adolescence. The organization has strongly contributed to the development of asylum seekers services and to the promotion of intercultural dialogue. The realization of awareness-raising and empowerment actions targeting foreign and Italian citizens has strenghtened a good practice of active citizenship. It has also created a deep support network to protect vulnerable groups rights.