On Monday December 12th the training stage of the project "Others, we, and I" has finished. The project took place at the II Circle of the "Manzoni" State Didactic Direction in Raffadali (AG) financed as part of the Operational Target Converging Program 2007 – 2013 European Fund – Sicily Region (Educational Actions and Promotion of legality and active citizenship). The action of Mentoring USA/Italy has been included in the project.

Mentoring Project finalday poster

The extension of projects realized so far in the cities of Palermo and Catania has been one of the main topics of the meeting held in Rome between Sergio Cuomo and Raffaele Lombardo, president of Sicily Region. The need for guaranteeing, therefore, an educational activity which has been widely acclaimed and especially the possibility to extend and test a similar path also in other cities of Sicily. The projects realized so far, with the topic "The Integration of Immigrant Minors", have had an important value for a region which has always been interested by migration flows from north-African countries.For this reason President Lombardo welcomed with favor the invitation of Cuomo to assist the next World Forum for child welfare which will focus on immigration.The same Lombardo also expressed the intention for an institutional visit in the United States and the desire of meeting Mario and Matilda Cuomo. At the meeting there were also Paolo Genco and Gaetano Calà who are Chairperson and Director respectively of "ANFE", Immigrant Families National Association, a partner of Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO since two years.

In the meeting held recently in Rome, Sergio Cuomo and Antonio Bernardi, Chairperson of the Foundation Vodafone Italy discussed of the World Forum 2012 and the possibility of creating a multimedia platform in schools which could help a better use for kids.

Vodafone Foundation, which has always cared about kids' needs, showed once again to be available for a synergy with Mentoring USA-Italy as already happened with the Mentor Project.

As part of the project The City of Law – Together for Legality realized by the Logos Group – NPO, Famiglie in Gioco, Arcat Campania and Mentoring USA /Italy – NPO, it took place on December 2nd 2011 at 4 (pm) in Room of the Gonfalon of Salerno, the seminar "Parents, Children and Alcohol: How can we talk about it?".

The seminar was featured with talks by keynote speakers: EmanueleScafato, director of the National Observatory for Alcoholism of the Health Superior Institute, Francesca Moccia, psychologist, and ImmacolataLettieri trainer.

The seminar was attended by Nino Savastano, Director of Social Policies of the Municipality of Salerno; Stefania Pirazzo, Chairperson of the Logos Group, Pasquale Longo, Chairperson of the CSV Sodalis of Salerno and Sergio Cuomo, Chairperson of Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO.

At the end of the seminar it took place the inter-club between Local Alcoholics Clubs. (Hudolin method)

Milan, October 6th 2011. The meeting has underlined the value of collaboration already started in previous years. Sergio Cuomo, Dr. Maria Grazie Guida, the deputy mayor of the City of Milan together with the Director of Social Policies and Culture of Health, Pier Francesco Maiorino have found an agreement regarding the willingness of continuing Mentoring projects. During the meeting Sergio Cuomo has also showed the mission of the World Forum for Child Welfare of 2012 which will take place in Naples. Mentoring USA/Italy is the organizer and has informed members of the city council of the next visit of the spouses Mario and Matilda Cuomo in Italy.

From October 18th to 21st 2011, international representatives and experts for children welfare met at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Melbourne – Australia – for the 22nd annual conference of IFCW (International Forum for Child Welfare), a non-governmental organization which is committed to promote right of children worldwide. The global conference focused on "Education and Children's Wellbeing – Philosophy, Policy and Practice". Doctor Vito Giacalone – Mentoring USA/Italy Director of Programs – showed a welcome video to the World Forum for Child Welfare 2012 which will take place in Naples. Mentoring USA/Italy is the host of this global conference together with L'Albero della Vita Foundation as co-host.

We have received a lot of messages of support and praise following the broadcast of the Mentoring commercials on Mediaset channels. The commercial had Giancarlo Magalli and Francesco Pidone as protagonists.

We thank everyone who has expressed solidarity for our social mission, also with request of becoming mentors.

During the meeting between Sergio Cuomo and Giovanni Puglisi, who is the Chairperson of the Bank of Sicily Foundation, it has been confirmed, by the president of Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO the aim to continue the project "All the Colors of the World" which focuses on integration of immigrant kids in school of Sicily. The project, which involved seven schools between Palermo and Catania, concluded last days to the satisfaction of teachers, mentors, and mentees.

Salerno, 02/03/2011. Sergio Cuomo met Amilcare Troiano, President of National Park of Cilento and Diano Valley to discuss potential synergies and elaboration of projects aimed to value and support the Mediterranean diet, which is now part of the Unesco heritage. A few days ago the news of the award which has seen realized the dream of Angelo Vassallo, Mayor of Pollica killed last September.

Mentoring, which has always cared about education and a proper nutrition so as to have already developed these types of projects over the years, welcomed with enthusiasm the proposal.

On Friday January 28th at 9.00 a.m. it was held in Palermo at the complex Malaspina, "Baviera Room", the meeting "In & Out, Legality Paths" which involves authorities, experts from the world of Juvenile Justice and representatives of specialist organizations. The agency which organized the conference is Euro Research Center, promotion and community initiative together with National Organization for Emigrant Families and the organization Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO.

Legality Paths includes itself in the field of National Operational Program "Safety for the development of Italian Mezzogiorno" – Convergence Target 2007 – 2013, aimed to help young people to get out of criminal law and widening the opportunity of social and work integration. Under-ages helped by the Services of Juvenile Justice will be joined by tutors selected and trained according the model of the Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO.

Naples. Sergio Cuomo, Chairperson of Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO,met in recentdays the vice – president of Campania Region, Giuseppe De Mita.

The point at issue was the World Forum 2010 which took place in New York from November 8thto 11th and the Italian nomination for 2012 which will probably go to Naples.

It has also been discussed the activity to be realized over next school year and especially the Mentoring Project "Hinterland – Coast" for 2011 with a specific module which will offer to youths involved the chance of knowing and deepening places and resources of Campania Region.

A similar path has been realized by the province of Salerno, with support of EPT which has produced positive results for contrasting early school leaving as well as promoting the territory.

The unique aspect of this project is favoring exchanges and knowledge between the hinterland and coast of the territory.

For the World Forum 2010, which took place from November 8th to 11th, Matilda and Sergio Cuomo met Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York.

Michael Bloomberg, who has always been close to youths problems, confirmed his support to Mentoring USA/Italy and showed to be enthusiastic to the opening of Mentoring Projects in Spain starting from the next December 4th in the region of Andalusia.

Mrs. Matilda and Sergio Cuomo, representatives of the Italian Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO staff and an Italian delegation were guests of Bloomberg, in an evening at the Grace Mansion, official residence of the Mayor. The event was the official welcome to different delegates and representatives of the World Forum 2010.

It took place, last November 21st, at the Grand Hotel Salerno, a fundraising evening for Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO organized by the Leo Club Salerno Host as part of the Project "School".

The Leo Club "Salerno Host" has strongly committed itself this social year to childhood /adolescents issues and children rights.

In this regard it has been called an auction for a wedding dress kindly offered by a famous Salernitan fashion house. Several people have taken part to the event giving their contribution to the success of the evening. The event has been also attended by the Director of Commerce of the Municipality of Salerno, Alfonso Buonaiuto.

Ernesto De Sio, Chairperson of the "Leo Club Salerno Host", has confirmed, at the end of the evening, the willingness by all members, to dedicate and organize some "services", club activities, aimed to improve and increase development opportunities for the methodology of Mentoring to prevent and contrast school issues and those which are more worrying often causes of social curses. "Helping others and being active and effective part of society. Remembering and reminding that from small gestures come important things" those the word of Ernesto De Sio, who was really enthusiast of the partnership with Mentoring USA/Italy NPO.

It concluded the twenty-first annual meeting of the International Forum for Child Welfare (IFCW) at the Learning Center IBM Palisades, New York.

About 500 international delegates and experts of child welfare, coming from 40 countries have been received by Matilda Cuomo, Co-Chairs World Forum 2010 and founder of Mentoring USA/Italy.

Mrs Cuomo, in her welcome speech, has highlighted in particular the importance of the Forum to reach set goals. "The cultural difference which exists must not be considered an obstacle but a richness which could allow to build a healthy society for our children. We cannot and must not stop and this Forum shows we never will".

Sergio Cuomo, Chairperson of Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO, has, indeed, discussed about the need of comprehending and especially to make young people protagonist in school and society by giving them an educational model which is engaging and guide them towards the future, creating conditions for an opportunity of a better society.

The Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, invited all World Forum participants to a wonderful evening at Grace Mansion thus giving his welcome and support.

Next year forum will take place in Melbourne, Australia, from October 18th to 21st and, as announced by Sergio Cuomo, Mentoring will organize the World Forum in Italy in 2012.

Contrasting the phenomenon of tobacco addiction among under-ages is one of the more efficient prevention actions to soothe the negative effects of smoke on health and individual behavior. British American Tobacco Italy wants to contribute to reduce this malaise looking for solutions able to favor the growth of a more balanced and supportive society. Every initiative to prevent tobacco addiction in under-ages must focus on different factors which make young people start smoking cigarette. Starting smoking is a consequence of an individual behavioral process, environmental and social, rarely ascribable to a single event. The under-age behaves like an adult smoker or peers to feel part of a social and cultural group and to claim their own personalities. Since the end of the Sixties the school was considered the place to spread information regarding health.Nowadays things have changed. School is the place where young people start smoking, following the example of their peers. From here comes the interest towards the Mentor Project proposed by Mentoring USA/Italy. British American Tobacco Italy has showed its interest in supporting the Mentoring Program 2010/2011 which focus on the inclusion of an education action aimed to prevent under-age smoking monitoring the educational response of the action started through statistical elaboration. The message is: those who smoke are not free, they are slave of tobacco addiction; cigarettes do not help, they cause problems. The key messages of the campaign are not conveyed as a prohibition or warning. Instead, they focus on an emotional appeal and creative communication. Under-ages who start smoking put at risk their health and life. These messages must be transmitted highlighting a positive behavior towards life, without smoking.

Brescia 26/07/2010. A synergy between Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO, Brescia Calcio and Lombardy Region is born. The chance has been a dinner strongly wanted by Silvia Corioni, daughter of the President of Brescia Football Team and ambassador of Mentoring. The dinner was attended by Sergio Cuomo, Chairperson of Mentoring, who is currently campaigning for his cousin Andrew to the office of Governor of the State of New York, mrs. Monica Rizzi. Regional Director of Sport and Youth, and the only woman representative suggested by Umberto Bossi in the Lombardy Parliament and Giuseppe Cuomo, Mentoring event organizer.

Roma, October 6th 2010. The association CIVITA, Gianfranco Imperatori Room Piazza Venezia, 11. British American Tobacco Italy and Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO it has been held a round table on the topic "Partnership between public and private to prevent juvenile malaise: a comparison between educational models and experiences".

The meeting was also attended by Sergio Cuomo, Chairperson of Mentoring USA/Italy – NPO; Massimiliano Di Domenico, British American Tobacco; mrs.LiviaTurco as a member of the Social Policies Commission of the Chamber of Deputies; Sergio Scala, general direction for students MIUR; Anna Teresa Formisano, Parliament Commission for Regional Affairs; Andrea Sergio Fantoma, Head of the Department of Youth at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Fabrizio Minnalla, Foundation for the South.

Salerno, 13/09/2010. At the Province of Salerno, Sergio Cuomo and the President of Provincial Council Fernando Zara met to discuss about the activities of Mentoring to be realized in the province of Salerno. It was a useful occasion to talk of a potential synergy aimed to value and support the huge cultural and tourist heritage of our province internationally.

Later on a meeting with the Heritage Director, Adriano Bellacosa who has confirmed the activity of the Province on the mission of Mentoring which in these years has helped more than 1000 kids in Salerno.

Enroll in the educational activity promoted by the program "The City of Law: Together for Legality". The program aims to involve – through charity work – the civil community in a path of growth which wants to promote lifestyles consistent with values of legality and preservation of health.

The project will be attended by youths and adults in paths aimed towards legality utilizing educational modules which develop civic sense and comprehension of juveniles issues with particular attention to the world of addictions.

Courses schedule:

- Training activity regarding issues connected with common drugs. October 21st/22nd at 3.00 (pm) – 6.00 (pm); six hours a day.

- Training activity regarding compulsive eating November 18th/19th 3.00 (pm) – 6.00 (pm); six hours a day

- New addictions December 9th/10that 3 (pm) – 6.00 (pm); six hours a day.

Attached pdf.