The Training Courses for European Mediators for Intercultural Understanding and Social Cohesion and Caregivers Have Concluded

The two editions of the training courses for European Mediators for Intercultural Understanding and Social Cohesion and Caregivers, organized by the University of Naples Federico II and the Community of Sant’Egidio,concluded with the presentation of 50 certificates.

The ceremony took place on Monday,July 13, 2026, in the “Jerry Masslo” Auditorium of the Community of Sant’Egidio’s School of Italian Language and Culture, located on Vico San Nicola a Nilo in Naples.

Speakers included the Rector’s Delegate for the Integration of Migrants and Refugees at the University, Francesco Dandolo; the Director of the Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Pietro Formisano; the Scientific Director of the Caregiver Course, Giuseppe Rengo; and the Academic Coordinator, Anna Maria Iannicelli.

The two training programs are carried out under the framework agreement between the University of Naples Federico II and the Community of Sant’Egidio, which is celebrating its tenth anniversarythis year .

The presentation of the certificates marks the conclusion of the ninth edition of the Course for European Mediators for Intercultural Understanding and Social Cohesion and the sixth cycle of the Caregiver Course. Since the initiative began , over 600 mediators and 100 caregivers have been trained , involving young migrants, refugees, and numerous Italian students interested in issues of interculturalism, inclusion, and caring for vulnerable people.

One of the distinctive features of the courses is their accessibility: enrollment fees are very low thanks to the voluntary commitment of the instructors—university professors, professionals, experts, and representatives of the public administration—who offer their expertise free of charge in the spirit of sharing that characterizes the activities of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Naples and Campania.

During the ceremony, Professor Nicola Ferrara—who, together with Professors Giuseppe Castaldo and Francesco Dandolo, helped launch the Caregiver Course—recalled the story of Mamadou Diallo, a young man from Senegal who arrived in Italy after a journey of hope. After completing the course, Mamadou earned a degree in Nursing Sciences from Federico II University and will be hired on a permanent basis at a healthcare facility in Naples in the coming weeks. This is concrete evidence of the human and professional potential embodied by so many young refugees who, through training and integration, find new opportunities for life and work.

During the meeting, it was also announced that new calls for applications for admission to the upcoming editions of the two training programswill be published in September.

The certificate ceremony also provided an opportunity to take stock of the activities of the Community of Sant’Egidio’s School of Italian Language and Culture, which for over thirty years has served as a hub for the linguistic and social inclusion of migrants and refugees. In the 2025–2026 academic year , the School enrolled approximately 2,000 students and organized 45 free courses thanks to the dedication of 50 volunteers, including teachers and administrative staff. These figures confirm the School’s status as the most important educational institution for migrants and refugees in Southern Italy.