Boys' & Girls' Towns of Italy

Boys' & Girls' Towns of Italy is composed of two communities of self-governed young people. Both La Città dei Ragazzi (Rome) and La Repubblica dei Ragazzi (Civitavecchia) were founded by Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing after World War II. The youth of the Towns come from over 20 different countries escaping violence, poverty and injustice. The Towns' success lies in the innovative model of self-government where the children take responsibility for running their own communities.

At the Towns, the young people relate to one another as citizens. Each citizen is encouraged and supported to become an active and creative participant in his or her community. The children attend local schools, study in a European Union recognized vocational training program and are exposed to a variety of cultural and educational experiences. Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Italy have given a chance in life to over 32,000 children.

Nearly50% ofEthiopiangirlswhostartschoolwill dropoutbeforefinishingthefifthgrade.

OurTownsensureourchildrenhavethesupportthey needtosucceedinschool.

Boys' & Girls' Towns of Ethiopia

Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Ethiopia builds on the solid foundation of the work done in Italy over the past 70 years. Throughout the last decade, many young people arriving at our Towns in Italy were from Northeastern Africa. In 2015, A Chance In Life inaugurated Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Ethiopia to open up new possibilities for children in one of the poorest countries of the world. A Chance In Life is working with the young and dynamic Diocese of Emdibir to support the lives of 400 children through three different programs.

The first program gives 100 girls access to education by providing homes close to the local high school. Boys' & Girls' Towns of Ethiopia also supports 100 young people living with disabilities and 200 orphans and vulnerable children. At bimonthly meetings, each group comes together to share their challenges and to encourage one another to

Indiahasthehighestabsolutenumberof childbridesintheworld.Girlswitha secondaryeducationare timesless likelytomarryaschildren.

Boys' & Girls' Towns of India

In October 2016, we inaugurated Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of India to provide a chance in life to over 1,000 extremely poor girls and boys living in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Located on the south coast of India, these states are densely populated and culturally diverse. They are also home to many tribal communities, most of which live well below the poverty line. Many children in these communities do not have basic necessities or access to education. Often, they are enrolled in programs for a better life.

Boys' & Girls' Towns of India supports twelve of these programs. The young men and women of our Towns in India are given a home, an education and the opportunity to develop as self-confident and responsible members of their communities through selfgovernment.

LatinAmericahasthesecond-highestteen pregnancyrateintheworld.Ifallwomen completedsecondaryeducation,early birthscouldfallbyasmuchas .59%

OurTownsprovideouryoungpeoplewiththesupport theyneedtostayinschool.