A scuola di cittadinanza Come la società civile promuove l’emancipazione degli immigrati

The Italian language schools promoted by various actors of civil society are one of the main expressions of voluntary solidarity towards immigrants, especially newcomers with precarious or irregular legal statuses. This article is based on qualitative research conducted within the language courses for foreigners promoted by the association Salute senza Frontiere (SASEF), an organization based in Cologno Monzese, a city in the outskirts of Milan. The article aims to discuss two important themes. The first concerns the relationship between Italian language teaching and the integration of immigrants into the host society; the second focuses on the role of civil society in providing aid and services to foreign minorities. In particular, the article shows that teaching Italian means offering a basic tool for integration and empowerment, enabling immigrants to expand their social networks and access various rights. Regarding the role of civil society, the thesis of this article is that voluntary support for immigrants represents a form of active citizenship, capable of responding with flexibility and sensitivity to a demand not met by public institutions. In doing so, ordinary citizens also become more aware of the issue they are engaging with. Finally, these organizations develop forms of protest and advocacy aimed at reconsidering and renegotiating public action and the political approach to migration.