In the Libertà area where the Salesian Oratory is, many young people spend their time sitting on benches or wandering around on scooters. Facilities for young people are virtually non-existent apart from a pizza takeaway and bars that close at sunset.
Faced with this reality, the Salesian community has decided to open a pub in the oratory. "It will be our social pub, our meeting point. It will be open to children until 8.00 p.m. and then for those a bit older," says Fr Francesco Preite, Director of the oratory. There will be no excesses, certainly no rivers of alcohol, "but a conscientious administration with campaigns against all forms of addiction."
The idea was born a few months ago, when Fr Preite read a municipal notice saying that the Economic Development division will finance 50% of the costs of new commercial activities, giving priority to those in poor and deprived areas.
Fr Preite says, “Our project will cost €80,000 and is included among those eligible for municipal funding. In practice we will have to contribute €40,000, and with that we can begin work within a few weeks in one of the Oratory buildings".
The space can accommodate about 20 people, and with outdoor seating in summer it can take 50-70. In addition, the pub automatically provides an opportunity for training and entry into the world of work. "In the first phase we are planning a staff of five selected from the young people who are doing training courses. If the project works, we can then take on others" Fr Preite says.
The older members are already trying to think of a name for the pub. The Salesians hope that the new service will help to relaunch the cinema-theatre, a little gem with 700 seats that can accommodate stage performances, screenings, concerts, shows and cultural events, but which unfortunately has been closed for more than twenty years because it requires extensive refurbishment.
Source: La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno
