by InTrieste
A new 9-seat minibus, delivered this week to the Italian non-profit A.S.D. Calicanto, promises to be a game-changer for its programs focused on sports, music, and social integration. The vehicle, made possible through a joint donation from the CRTrieste Foundation and UniCredit, provides essential transportation to foster inclusion among differently-abled youth in the northeastern Italian city.
Loredana Catalfamo of the CRTrieste Foundation Board of Directors, alongside Renzo Chervatin, Head of Territorial Development for the Northeast at UniCredit, handed over the keys in a small ceremony held at Calicanto’s headquarters. The vehicle, which replaces an older model, will help transport participants to training sessions, performances, and various community events.
A Mission of Inclusion
A.S.D. Calicanto, a Trieste-based non-profit founded in 2001, provides athletic, musical, and educational opportunities for individuals with physical, cognitive, and relational disabilities. Through an array of integrated programs, Calicanto brings together able-bodied and differently-abled youth to build skills, confidence, and relationships in a supportive setting. According to Calicanto’s leaders, the organization’s approach has created a sense of community that resonates beyond sports and education, fostering human connections and mutual respect among all its members.
“Sports and music have this unique way of breaking down barriers, of making inclusion feel natural,” says Alessandro Moretti, Director of A.S.D. Calicanto. “Our new vehicle means that our participants can now access more events, spaces, and opportunities.”
The organization’s programs include a robust sports division with over 150 young participants, able-bodied and otherwise, who practice and play in multiple sports competitions across the region. The music department is home to the popular “Calicanto Band,” a 30-member ensemble that blends the talents of disabled musicians and local volunteers in performances that span Italy and beyond. In both areas, Calicanto uses these shared experiences to challenge perceptions around disability and encourage social inclusion.
A Path to Empowerment
The new minibus, accessible and purposefully designed for group travel, will provide the freedom to take participants beyond the limits of the city, enabling them to travel comfortably and safely. The foundation hopes the vehicle will improve accessibility to social, cultural, and competitive events, particularly for the many participants who are otherwise unable to arrange transportation.
Chervatin underscored UniCredit’s commitment to supporting inclusion-focused projects through their CartaEtica program, which helps fund initiatives aimed at social equity. “This minibus represents freedom and opportunity,” Chervatin said. “It’s a way to provide real mobility for those who are working toward a more inclusive society through music and sport.”
The Power of Partnership
The collaboration between CRTrieste and Calicanto is part of the foundation’s broader commitment to supporting social welfare and inclusivity initiatives in the region. As Catalfamo highlighted, the foundation has a longstanding partnership with Calicanto, underscoring its dedication to fostering social cohesion and participation.
For Calicanto’s youth, the minibus is more than just a vehicle—it’s a passport to greater independence, self-assurance, and connection with society. And as they roll out to new venues and events, each journey holds the promise of new opportunities and expanded horizons, both for them and the community that welcomes them.
