by InTrieste
As schools close for the summer, the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government is expanding its support for families through a series of publicly funded summer programs designed to provide educational activities for children while helping parents balance work and family responsibilities.
Regional officials announced on Sunday that funding has been allocated for two initiatives scheduled for summer 2026: the Attivascuola summer campuses and a grant program supporting summer centers operated by nonprofit organizations.
The programs are part of a broader strategy aimed at addressing the challenges families face during periods when schools are closed. Regional authorities say the approach seeks to provide continuity in educational and social opportunities for children throughout the year, not only during the summer months.
“We are intervening to support the balance between private and working life through a model based on cooperation and shared responsibility,” said Alessia Rosolen, the regional councillor for education, training and family affairs, during a presentation in Trieste.
The initiatives are structured around two separate funding channels. The first supports summer campuses within the Attivascuola project, delivered by local training organizations. The second provides financial assistance to third-sector organizations operating summer centers for children and teenagers.
According to regional officials, both programs aim to offer families either free services or activities at reduced cost, while placing particular emphasis on the inclusion of children and young people with disabilities.
The Attivascuola summer campuses are financed through the European Social Fund Plus, which has allocated a total of €8.1 million to the broader project. The summer component will provide 602 places for students aged 10 to 14.
The week-long programs, running between late June and late July, will offer experiential workshops focused on subjects including foreign languages, music, information and communication technologies, sustainability and physical activity. Activities will be held at 30 locations across the region, including Pordenone, Aviano, Udine, Cervignano del Friuli, Cividale del Friuli, Tolmezzo, Codroipo, Pasian di Prato, Gorizia, Monfalcone and Trieste.
Alongside the campus initiative, the regional government has allocated approximately €549,000 to support summer centers managed by nonprofit organizations. The projects serve children and young people between the ages of 3 and 17 and operate from June through September.
Officials said the centers provide extended schedules of up to 50 hours per week, offering childcare and educational activities during working hours. Thirty-three projects received funding and are expected to serve nearly 1,200 children and teenagers.
Inclusion remains a central component of the program. More than 7,700 hours of tutoring support have been financed to assist children with disabilities, providing an average of 162 hours of support per participant.
Regional authorities also highlighted the programs’ economic impact, noting that their implementation will involve approximately 250 workers, including educators and support staff, with additional assistance provided by volunteers.
