CorriBicocca for the boys of Beccaria, Buccoliero: “Sport is inclusion”

Over 2200 students, teachers, employees of the Bicocca University but also many citizens took part in the traditional “CorriBicocca”. Now in its fourth edition, running through the streets in the area where the campus is located is now a tradition of the university. “It is our way of opening up to the city and the neighborhood by showing off our beautiful Stadium,” said Giovanna Iannantuoni, director of the University of Milano-Bicocca. A foot race made in total safety thanks to vaccination and the green pass. “It is a moment of sporting sharing – added the rector, – but above all we run to help, the Rava Foundation. Sport and solidarity encompass inclusion and openness, some of the main values ​​of our university and which have been supported by our children by competing in this race. We need to get back together and share emotions and places. There was a great desire to win back all this and to prove it was the great success of the registrations ”, concluded Giovanna Iannantuoni. The 5,000 euro check was donated to support the Palla project at the Center of the Francesca Rava Foundation – NPH Italia Onlus, dedicated to minors and young adults of the Cesare Beccaria Penal Institute for minors and aimed at providing paths for social reintegration and working of the boys. “Sport is inclusion, and it can also give you a second chance in life,” said Cosima Buccoliero, director of the Cesare Beccaria Penal Institute for Minors. “We are very keen to organize initiatives that can somehow put children in contact with the outside world and sport certainly constitutes one of these elements. In juvenile prisons, sporting activities are those most frequented by children. Hooking up these young people is not easy, as is finding passions in them. Sport, on the other hand, can work miracles. It allows inmates to feel well both physically and mentally and perhaps even dream of great sporting achievements “, he continued.” With the proceeds made available by the Bicocca-Milan University, we will take care of 10 projects, some of which have already started, which they lead the children to acquire professional skills or to make them live better inside the prison. For this I thank the Bicocca University and the Rava Foundation very much for this opportunity ”, concluded the director of the prison Cosima Buccoliero who was echoed by the words of Maria Carla Gatto, president of the Juvenile Court of Milan. “The university marathon fully represents the values ​​of sharing, strength, solidarity and loyalty. All the best qualities to help Beccaria’s kids in difficulty. Breaking down prejudices, fighting the isolation and stigmatization of young people who have entered the criminal circuit, for their future social and work inclusion is precisely the goal of the “Palla al Centro” project of the Francesca Rava Foundation. “Justice gives a second chance to those who have made a mistake and therefore we must be ready to do it too”, said Mariavittoria Rava, President of the Francesca Rava NPH Italia Onlus Foundation. “They are kids who have not always received a pat on the back or an encouragement in life. For this reason we rely on the students who will be the parents of the future for greater awareness – he continued – Sport for prisoners means exercising one’s ability to commit and focus on a goal, but above all it means doing it as a team. We tried to play sports with them. The initial effort and also believing in oneself, wanting to put oneself to the test and then maybe reach the result, are like life paths that can help them to have greater confidence and with a positive look towards the future ”, concluded Mariavittoria Rava.