An initiative aimed at rescuing children from the grips of Italy's most prominent mafia organizations by extricating them from criminal family environments is expanding its reach to include organized crime groups in Sicily and Naples, as announced by the justice ministry. The "Free to Choose" program was established in 2012 by juvenile judge Roberto Di Bella in Calabria. Calabria is the stronghold of Italy's most influential criminal syndicate, the 'Ndrangheta.
Chiara Colosimo, the leader of the Italian parliament's anti-mafia commission, emphasized the dire situation, stating, “There are children being taught to shoot at eight years old. There are children dealing crack at eight years old.”
Di Bella recounted harrowing tales of children coerced into committing matricide to safeguard their family's honor, yet he also encountered youngsters “who still have light in their eyes, who hope for a different life”.
Since its launch, the program has placed approximately 150 children with foster families or within supportive communities at undisclosed locations nationwide, where they are able to experience life beyond the criminal clans.
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