SAFE SPACE. An innovative space for the first reception of unaccompanied foreign minors in Rome


Abstract:

The Safe Space was born in 2023 as a place of first reception for unaccompanied foreign minors. It is a groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in Italy, funded by the FAMI “CapaCe” fund, sees the Prefecture of Rome as lead organization, in partnership with Programma Integra s.c.s., the Italian Red Cross – Rome Metropolitan Area and in collaboration with the Social Operations Room and the Minors Office of the Municipality of Rome. From March 2023 until September 2024, the Safe Space has temporarily welcomed 1060 unaccompanied foreign minors of non-EU nationality, with a permanence ranging from 12 to a maximum of 72 hours. Through interviews with project managers (Prefecture of Rome and Red Cross) I want to describe this reality which constitutes a "Good practice" of reception, within a phenomenon that has recorded numerous critical issues.