Boys for the rebirth of Sant'Orsola in Sassari. Twenty young people, aged 17 to 22, came together in an association last summer with the aim of restoring dignity and social opportunities to the neighborhood.

"We work in the social sector," says Mario Cassano, president of the ASD, the youngest in Italy at twenty, "and to begin with we founded a team, registered in the third category, which is becoming the opportunity of a meeting point for everyone. Through football we will be able to listen to the voices of the inhabitants, improving the negative aspects of Sant'Orsola." Which are various, starting with a certain state of neglect in the green spaces such as, for example, around the small field where the children play.

"The worst aspect," explains Francesco Scalas, another associate, "is the abandonment. There is a lack of meeting places for children and the elderly and between the absence of the Municipality and the bad use of some inhabitants of the various areas, we have arrived at the current situation."

The neighborhood offers little, apart from pizzerias, and hides some dangers. From the burning of cars to the recent beating of a 65-year-old resident in via Marginesu by a young man. "But this is a person who doesn't live here with us," continues Mario, "and, mistakenly, the media associated the episode with the young people who live in Sant'Orsola. We immediately showed our solidarity with the gentleman by going to visit him in the hospital."

The path to finding an identity is long and the starting point seems to be the soccer team. "We are also involving children," says coach Giuseppe Caggiari, "we have created banners for those who follow us. It is free, open to all, and we are happy that our neighborhood comes to see us."

© Riproduzione riservata