Bologna, April 18, 2018

Following the success of the 2017 edition, once again this year CRIF is offering 3 study grants (of 3,600 €) to children of its employees for 4-week international summer programs organized by the non-profit organization Intercultura.
The association promotes international educational programs with the aim of encouraging dialogue and tolerance towards different cultures and contributing to the construction of a new type of education for peace.

Statements from the 2017 participants

Roberta, 16 years old and a student at the languages high school in Bari, has no doubts: “I'll be starting university in a couple of years, and I'm sure it won't be in Italy, maybe Germany”. Her experience changed her for the better, allowing her to explore new opportunities: “it's an experience I definitely want to repeat!” Her destination was Dublin where, living with a family, she attended advanced English courses: “The lessons were very engaging, we dealt with a specific topic every week, from history to cinema, from sport to art...theory in the morning and practice in the afternoon: in this way I was able to spend every day in close contact with young people of different nationalities and I'm still in touch with some of them”.

Marco too, a 17-year-old student at scientific high school, had the chance to feel like a “citizen of another country” in the Irish capital. There were many, well-organized activities, and for him the time really flew: “It’s more than a holiday, where you completely immerse yourself in the life of someone your own age who lives in another world: you establish relationships with your host family, friends and other students. This gives you the opportunity to discover new things, including about yourself. It's not just memories of the experience that stay with you, but it's something that helps you grow and stays with you forever”.

Martina, 17 and from Bologna, attended a college in Denmark, and the experience enabled her to come in contact with many local students, getting used to their pace of life and customs: “In the mornings we were always at lessons, whereas we spent the afternoons doing all types of activity...we built a canoe, which obviously we tried out!”. Denmark wasn't her first choice, but her doubts disappeared after a few days: “Traveling helps you grow, discover different cultures and customs, and become aware of the fact that the world varies a lot and is full of surprises. What's more, I spent a weekend with a Danish family and had the chance to go further north, go on bike trips and discover an amazing landscape”.

All that remains is to wish good luck to those about to leave for the 2018 edition!