Inclusione ai crocevia: Schools, Universities and Institutions Together for a Future of Work and Active Citizenship
Chieti, October 13, 2025 –
The Auditorium of the Rectorate of the University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara hosted the event “Inclusione ai crocevia – A Dialogue among Schools, Universities and Institutions for a Future of Work and Active Citizenship”, a morning of discussion and reflection dedicated to building a shared vision of inclusion, promoted within the framework of the European project BYBLIOS (2023–1–IT02–KA220–ADU–000161194).
The project, coordinated by the University “G. d’Annunzio”, involved partners from five countries (Italy, Romania, Germany, Portugal, and Spain) to develop and validate a European Protocol for the professional inclusion of people with cognitive disabilities, through the educational and community role of school and public libraries.
A European dialogue on inclusion
After the institutional greetings by Maria Cristina Verrocchio (University “G. d’Annunzio”) and Massimiliano Nardocci (Municipality of Chieti), the project team — Laura Caronna and Anita Montagna — presented the main outcomes of BYBLIOS.
As an Erasmus+ Ambassador, Laura Caronna underlined that Erasmus should not be seen only as a movement of people, but also as a movement of knowledge and relationships.
The discussion, moderated by Professor Roberto Veraldi, unfolded through a series of contributions that emphasized the project’s role as a “bridge between schools, universities, and communities.”
Schools as laboratories of citizenship
The first session, dedicated to the world of education, featured:
Gabriella Liberatore (Regional School Office – Abruzzo), Paola Di Renzo (Headmaster of Convitto Nazionale G.B. Vico and Director of the BibliARS Network), Bruno d’Anteo (Principal of IC Spoltore), and Chiara Zoppo (Coordinator of the IC Spoltore Library).
Speakers shared concrete examples of school libraries as community hubs, capable of bringing together families, volunteers, and students in shared learning and growth.
It emerged that inclusion does not depend on extraordinary resources, but rather on conviction, collaboration, and openness:
“You don’t need to start with large means — only with the belief that the library can become a laboratory of citizenship and inclusion.”
Universities and research on inclusion
The academic perspective was deepened by Professor Roberto Veraldi and Dr. Chiara Fasciani, tutor of the project at IC Spoltore.
Fasciani presented the experience of mentoring two trainees — Rosa and Alessia — throughout their professional and personal growth within the school library.
Through an Action Research approach, the team developed and tested a Protocol for Professional Inclusion, based on ICF indicators and supported by digital tools such as the Career e-Portfolio.
This approach enhanced not only technical competences (cataloguing, digitalization, loan management) but also relational and social skills, reaffirming that “relationship is the heart of every educational process.”
The third sector and volunteering as engines of change
The following session gave voice to volunteering and civic associations.
Speakers included Casto Di Bonaventura (President, CSV Delegation of Pescara), Antonietta Fusco (ARDA), and Dario Verzulli (Autismo Abruzzo).
All emphasized the human value of volunteering and the need to make it structural and sustainable.
“Volunteering keeps humanity alive,” Di Bonaventura reminded, “but it cannot replace public services — it must be recognized and integrated into public policies.”
The discussion also highlighted the role of libraries as spaces of care and community, capable of building relationships and shared meaning.
Several speakers also pointed out the difficulties in defining, from an administrative and institutional perspective, the professional roles of young adults with disabilities in the labour market.
This complexity raises important reflections on the sustainability of inclusion experiences, which cannot rely solely on volunteering but require stable institutional recognition and long-term support.
Institutions and the world of work: inclusion as development
In the closing session, coordinated by Professor Veraldi, the following speakers took part:
Daniele Giangiulli (Director, Confartigianato Chieti-L’Aquila), Annagloria Di Leo (Confartigianato), Rosa Pestilli (Regional Equal Opportunities Commission, Abruzzo), and the mayors Chiara Trulli (Spoltore) and Angelo Di Nardo (Ortona).
All stressed the link between work and dignity, reminding that inclusion cannot be achieved through welfare alone, but through real and continuous employment opportunities.
Confartigianato presented the “Stella Maris” project, developed with the Municipality of Montesilvano, which introduces accessible vocational qualifications for people with disabilities.
Mayor Trulli shared the ARIA Project, focused on inclusive employment and active citizenship, as a best practice of collaboration among local authorities, schools, and the third sector.
“When a person works, it’s not only about income — it’s about mental well-being, self-esteem, and belonging. That is the true meaning of inclusion.”
Towards a New Culture of the Library
The event reaffirmed a shared conviction: the library of the future is not merely a repository of books, but a civic and social laboratory, a space where education, care, and work intersect.
The BYBLIOS project demonstrated that collaboration among schools, universities, institutions, and associations can generate real change, turning inclusion into a daily and sustainable practice.
“Inclusion is not a destination, but a way of walking together.”
Main themes emerging from the event
The human value of inclusion – Recognizing the dignity and uniqueness of every individual, beyond disability categories.
The role of schools – School libraries as community hubs and spaces for civic learning.
Universities and research – Action Research as a tool for creating scientifically validated and replicable protocols.
Tutoring and mentoring – Educational relationships and trust as drivers of personal growth and autonomy.
Volunteering and sustainability – The need for structural resources and institutional recognition to make inclusion lasting.
Work as inclusion – Employment as a key to autonomy and dignity, not only an economic objective.
Territorial alliances – Public–private networks to build pathways for work inclusion and active citizenship.
Culture of care – Moving from an economy of growth to an economy of human development based on empathy and community.
European vision – The experiences from Romania, Germany, Portugal, and Spain strengthened the project’s transnational dimension.
Continuity and future – Partners are committed to disseminating the European Inclusion Protocol as a practical tool for schools, universities, and libraries.