Maria Ausiliatrice Institute was born in 1944. It was strongly requested by the citizens from Soverato. First of all, the oratory and play centre born as a free time space. Then, the nursery and needlecraft lab followed for young ladies.

The junior high school and the College for girl students born in 1945. They lasted till 1999. The junior high school became legally recognized through the ministry decree D.D.G. of 07/12/2001. It became the comprehensive school.

On 25 of October 1948, the teachers’ school (called Magistrale) born. It became recognized on 1953. It has been training many primary school teachers for ages.

Young people from all parts of Calabria attended the College. So, it became one of the main important schools on the territory.

Then it was changed in an Experimental School. Since 1983/1984 until now the school has been living various experiment processes.

In 2000/2001 the primary school born and was recognized through a decree D.D.G. 30/07/2002.

Since the 70s’ the Institute began to host the Professional Training Centre (VET) called CIOFS/FP. The Centre is existing nowadays, too and it is strongly active.

Today, the school is considered Omni Comprehensive because it also includes the kindergarden. It hosts children from 2 years until the young of 19 years old.

The Social Sciences Liceum and the Foreign Languages Liceum represent the final part of the studies.

The Institute is not very big The Institute is not very big. It has got 250 students more or less becoming from all over the region. They belong to the middle class. Some of them face difficult social and economic situations too.

The school follows the principles from Don Bosco consisting in being more closed to whom are poorer and disadvantaged.

Don Bosco schools are all over the world and constitute a huge network also in other countries.

The structure of the Don Bosco school network is based on family congregations and associations offering the educational method to as more people as possible.

Bon Bosco used to say ‘mettici il cuore’ (give love)

The Nuns of Maria Ausiliatrice follow the teaching of a young girl, Maria Domenica Mazzarello whom Don Bosco met and he considered to be the leader of the area dedicated to the girls education.

The main principles of such method are: THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING CLOSER AND SUPPORTING THE YOUNG IN THEIR LEARNING PROCESS

THE CONSTANT DIALOGUE AMONG THE ADULT AND THE YOUNG HELPING THEM TO BE ORIENTED, FREELY MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE TOWARDS THEIR FUTURE CHOICES

THE OPENED WELCOMING

THE CENTRALITY OF THE REASON WHICH SUSTAIN THE RESEARCH AND THE ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

LOVE IS EVERYTHING FOR CHILDREN AND THE YOUNG

Today, in the course of each school year, many events are organized Today, in the course of each school year, many events are organized. The Director Suor Ausilia, in according with the Dean Suor Paola and the teachers, promotes occurrances involving people from other schools such the Laura Vicuna contest and that of ‘the Giovani Talenti’.

The first one lasts until the end of school when ‘The Young Talents’ Festival takes place. The Laura Vicuna contest involves works, such poems or pictures, of pupils from all over Italy regarding particular themes as the taking care of the environment concerning to the the young participants.

In the course of the ‘Festival of the young Talents’ prizes are awarded to the winners of Laura Vicuna contest. The Festival involves the young concerning music, organized alone or in bands. The spirit of the two initiatives is to welcome young people and promote their sensitivity and creativity towards themes that concerning them directly.

The strategic cooperation with JUMP association JUMP Gioventù in riSalto was born in 2012 from a team of young people who now are adults experts in European project design and management Projects development Non Formal Education Organization of learning events and activities Organization of different kinds of training JUMP WEBSITE

Between 2012 and 2014 JUMP developed 2 Youth in action projects with youngsters of IMA school The project S.P.O.T. (Studenti Promotori di Opportunità per il Territorio) – STUDENTS promoters of opportunites for the local territory financed by Youth in Action Programme action 1.2 Youth initiatives Free training sessions for students among 14 and 18 on communication, digital journalism, Web TV with external experts and professionals of local and regional medias

Between 2012 and 2014 JUMP developed 2 Youth in action projects with youngsters of IMA school The project R.Eco.R.D. (Regole Eco- municate per la Raccolta Differenziata) on environmental education. Teaching students how to recollect garbage in the proper way financed by Youth in Action Programme action 1.2 Youth initiatives ACTIVITIES: No formal education labs for children thanks to a puppet called “Record Man” who animated learning moments on Environment and civic education

Bringing European projects into schools and improve Non Formal Education

From 2014 with Erasmus Plus – JUMP involved the school in different activities and events TEACHERS TRAININGS ON: Coaching&mentoring, innovative technics European project design&management School living theatre Outdoor Education Erasmus Plus and the European dimension of teaching Pietro Curatola and Erika Gerardini JUMP coordinators

Our method always includes the cooperation with teachers and involvement of students Pietro Curatola, JUMP president Expert in European funds and project design

Outdoor activities and a contact with the outside reality Outdoor activities and a contact with the outside reality . Training sessions and work on the field Labs in local libraries

KA1 projects – mobility of teachers coming in Soverato for structured trainings

School living theatre – using the big saloon of the Institute Portuguese teachers attending a KA1 Project with a professional trainer in English working theatre

JUMP team of trainers covers different topics and gives to our activities the necessary expertise Francesca Casadonte, Nutrition biologist By the Institute for JUMP she organized Workshops and labs on «Nutrition, health and prevention of obesity and chronic deseases» Jess Mc Murray from UK Lawyer and researcher, writer and chef By the Institute for JUMP She conducted Workshops on Communication strategies And methods To improve teachers Competences