In Italy many women live in dramatic conditions, are Italian women and immigrants who are victims of ill-treatment and exploitation, women on their own or who live in uncomfortable family contexts, who often find freedom and autonomy, unachievable goals.
In 2012, on the occasion of its first two years of activity, the Marcegaglia Foundation chose to launch a tender at national level, to intervene on these difficult and hidden realities, encouraging the recovery of individual resources and abilities of women in severe difficulties.
The winner project of the 2012 call for proposals is “Holding Hands: Paths of Women Towards Autonomy”, realized by the Solidarity Centre “Il Ponte” of Cremona, which for years has intervened in favour of the weak sections of the population. “Holding Hands”, aimed at implementing concrete measures to foster personal achievements to favour employment, economic and housing autonomy for 10 women with particular socio-economic difficulties: long-term unemployed, by themselves with dependent children, victims of violence, with strong personal fragility and psychological stress. The route included work orientation and skills development and 800 hours work grants in agreement with the Municipalities in the District of Cremona. The methodology of the individual course has led these women to recover their self-confidence to complete their training and seek employment and again get in charge of their lives.
