ISOLA CATANIA

Isola Catania is a Social Enterprise (S.r.l.) operating as an Impact Community Hub: a network of multipurpose spaces and people that activates collaborative community processes, generating projects and opportunities for young Sicilians in the areas of education, employment, entrepreneurship, and culture, with the aim of contributing to the development of the region. The hub is located within Palazzo Biscari in Catania, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Isola was founded to tackle two major social challenges: educational poverty and the depopulation of southern Italy. Both are driven by a lack of economic, educational, and employment opportunities, which forces young people to emigrate while leaving others vulnerable and excluded from active participation in society, further impoverishing communities across the Mezzogiorno.
The hub’s activities are primarily directed at the Catania area and, in some cases, Sicily as a whole. Among its various initiatives, Isola Catania has launched CSC (Coalizione Scuola Catania / Catania School Coalition), an education programme aimed at strengthening transversal skills and reducing school dropout rates among young Sicilians. CSC is supported by partnerships with JA Italia, the University of Catania, and the Regional School Office of Sicily.
Restart Italia’s support is designed to strengthen Isola’s role as a catalyst for new alliances and educational initiatives, with the goal of combating educational poverty and school dropout, issues that significantly affect Sicily, particularly among younger generations. Supported activities include the establishment of the School Coalition, a multi-stakeholder platform for public and private actors in the education sector; the development of guidance and training pathways for teenagers; and the A.U.R.O.R.A. project, designed to revitalise educational opportunities in the inner areas of Catania and Palermo by promoting digital skills and innovation in teaching models.