Our Story

In 1945 Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing founded Boys' and Girls' Towns of Italy in Rome and in Civitavecchia to provide "a chance in life" to the homeless children living on the streets of post-World War II Italy. He believed that if young people are supported to take responsibility for their lives and their communities, they will grow into caring, self-sufficient adults. Self-government has been the source of success at our Towns for over 70 years.

Today in our Towns in Italy, we empower poor, refugee and migrant youth. These children, who have escaped war, poverty and persecution, live together and run their own Town. In the last two years, A Chance In Life expanded its programs to South Asia and Northeast Africa. Boys’ and Girls’ Towns of Ethiopia is changing the lives of 400 young people in one of the poorest countries in the world. Boys' and Girls' Towns of India is helping over 900 children, mostly girls.