“Ricuciamo Palermo”: University of Palermo opens distributed campus in

“Ricuciamo Palermo”: University of Palermo opens distributed campus in Zen

A memorandum of understanding was signed at the Giovanni Falcone comprehensive school to launch “Ricuciamo Palermo”, a project that brings the University of Palermo into the Zen neighbourhood. The initiative aims to turn schools into accessible university hubs, reduce school dropout and create educational and cultural opportunities for local youth.

• Signatories: Rector Massimo Midiri, school leaders and local representatives.
• Local partners: community organisations active in Zen, including Laboratorio Zen Isieme, Lievito, Handala and L'Albero della Vita.
• Planned activities: orientation programmes, workshops, cultural initiatives, local area studies and cooperation with public policies.
• Symbolic gesture: students handed the rector a symbolic key to mark the start of the collaboration.

Organisers say the aim is to build a daily, tangible university presence where social and educational fragilities are greater. “This neighbourhood is not difficult but fragile,” Rector Midiri commented, underlining the commitment to long-term, verifiable actions. School leaders highlighted the importance of offering students trust and concrete prospects, while local actors called for sustained collective engagement.

Follow-up meetings and evaluations are planned to monitor progress and show results over the coming year.