The aim of the CivicoZero initative is to "give protection to unaccompanied foreign minors that are at risk of being exploited for illegal activities,"as explained by Valentina Aquilino, the center's activities coordinator.  The center is located in Rome's San Lorenzo district. The CivicoZero project is run by a cooperative under by the same name, and its activities are funded by Save the Children. The project has been extended to other Italian cities such as Milan and Turin. "There is a shared objective to offer protection to vulnerable underage migrants," Aquilino explained.. CivicoZero is a daytime center for minors, but "our area of intervention goes beyond this and starts from activities on the streets" Aquilino continued. A team of operators from the center "contact minors in gathering places or areas where they are at risk of being involved in illegal activities" and brings them "information on their rights and legal ways to welcome and assist them." "Minors have an easy access to the center and its resources and the support staff". This approach is "informal, helping youths express their needs and building a connection with institutions and the territorial reception networks," Aquilino said. In 2016 "over 2,100 youths went through the center, including 1,700 of new entries from last year alone", explained Aquilino. Most of the youths are "boys from Egypt, Eritrea, Albania, Nigeria, Guinea and Mali". Minors that go to the center include "youths in reception centers", as well as those who are in transit and are granted the status of "protection while in Italy." Regarding minors on the street who are not yet part of the reception system and those who refuse to be hosted Aquilino said that: "what we do is try to make them aware of the regular protection processes" and in case of those in transit " the legal ways to connect with their families or go somewhere else". The objective of CivicoZero is to guarantee the protection of minors in three are  by welcoming them and letting them use basic services such as showers, meals, the internet  and rest areas.  The center also provides healthcare and legal aid "to make sure that youths are aware of their rights in Italy and Europe." The center  "promotes activities of social inclusion in which youths feel free to express themselves, like art labs" on  subjects such photography, videos, music and theater. CivicoZero also organizes "training activities such as Italian language courses and job orientations"

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