Promuovere senso civico e volontariato mediante Service Learning in contesti difficili. Lezioni apprese dalla valutazione di impatto del progetto GIOeVO [Promoting civicness and volunteering through service learning in challenging contexts: lessons learned from the impact assessment of the GIOeVO project]

The promotion of civic skills among young people is a critical challenge, particularly in Southern Italy. Engaging adolescents in volunteer activities appears to be a promising strategy, as supported by international research. However, rigorous evaluations of such initiatives remain scarce in the Italian context. This study examines the Giovani e Volontariato project (hereinafter referred to as GIOeVO), which offers valuable insights both from a theoretical perspective and in terms of evaluation practices. Findings indicate positive effects on participating students, with stronger outcomes associated with higher levels of exposure to the project’s activities. Nonetheless, the temporary nature of these effects underscores the importance of sustained and long-term initiatives to substantially foster meaningful civic engagement among youth.