A special task force, equipped with gloves, rakes, and a common goal, took to the field this morning in fourteen Italian cities. Among them was a unique and symbolic group: prisoners on day release, supported by volunteers, for a national cleanup day that combines respect for the environment with the value of social reintegration.
The operation, involving over 300 people, mobilizes inmates from 16 penitentiaries across Italy, from Turin to Cagliari, from Secondigliano to Locri. The event visits high-profile public spaces such as the parks of Varese, the beaches of Sabaudia and Marina di Massa, and urban areas of cities such as Padua, Prato, Teramo, and Reggio Calabria.
This mobilization represents a new stage in the process begun three years ago between the environmentalist association Plastic Free Onlus and Seconda Chance, an organization committed to the reintegration of prisoners.
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"After the extraordinary results in May, we decided to get back on track immediately," explains Flavia Filippi, president and founder of Seconda Chance. "These days aren't just cleanup operations, but community experiences. Inmates, volunteers, educators, and citizens come together to share concrete gestures of respect and solidarity. This is how reintegration becomes real: through trust, participation, and shared commitment."
A model that demonstrates how justice can be intertwined with civic engagement, transforming a collectively beneficial activity into a powerful opportunity for personal redemption. The goal, shared by all project partners, remains to build not only a cleaner environment, but also more supportive and inclusive communities, where a simple gesture like picking up a piece of trash can help mend the social fabric.
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