Naples – Returning to school isn't a happy time for everyone. With the start of the new school year, purchasing textbooks, backpacks, and school supplies represents an unaffordable expense for a growing number of families. To support students in need, the eighth edition of Banco dei Desideri, the charity collection initiative promoted by Mission Bambini in collaboration with Librerie Feltrinelli, returns to Naples and throughout Italy from Friday, September 11th to Sunday, September 13th.
The initiative will involve 125 stores in 84 cities. At the stalls set up in participating bookstores, residents will be able to purchase and donate books, notebooks, pens, dictionaries, educational games, and school supplies for children and young people between the ages of 3 and 14 living in socially and economically vulnerable situations.
Data on educational poverty in Naples
This intervention is particularly urgent in the Campania capital, where the economic fragility of families significantly impacts the growth of children. In Naples, 6% of families with children are in potential economic hardship, one of the highest rates among Italian metropolitan cities.
Inequalities also emerge at the level of individual neighborhoods:
San Pietro a Patierno: the hardship rate reaches a peak of 9,2%.
Arenella: the percentage drops to 2,7%.
Material poverty is accompanied by a serious educational emergency: 17,6% of young people between 18 and 24 drop out of school early, a percentage that rises to 25,2% among children of parents without a high school diploma.
The solidarity network
All the goods collected during the three-day event will be distributed by Mission Bambini to a select network of primary schools, middle schools, and educational centers throughout the country. In the first seven editions, the initiative has raised over 85.000 products, with a retail value exceeding €275.000.
The voices of the promoters
"School should be a place where every child feels welcome, never a place where they realize what they lack. Educational poverty involves the entire community: together we can prevent a child from starting the year already one step behind."
— Stefano Oltolini, General Director of Mission Bambini
"A bookstore is a space open to the community where culture and social responsibility meet. Offering children the tools to navigate their academic journey means investing in their future and their opportunities."
— Barbara Nardi, General Manager of the Feltrinelli Group's Channels Division
Details on the Wish Bank initiative
Here's some practical information about the Wish Bank, an important initiative to support students in need.
- Date: The initiative will take place from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September.
- Places: It will involve 125 stores in 84 Italian cities.
- Type of goods: You can donate books, notebooks, pens, dictionaries, educational games, and school supplies.
- recipients: The goods collected will be donated to children and young people between the ages of 3 and 14 in situations of social and economic vulnerability.
- Objective: Combat educational poverty and ensure equal educational opportunities.
