Our mission began in
in the aftermath of
World War II
How did it all start?
Vast numbers of orphans and vulnerable children were left living on the streets of Italy by the war, and Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing was determined that someone should care for them.
His decision to dedicate himself to their education and well-being defined the course of his life’s work and founded what would become A Chance In Life.
📖 You can read an archival document detailing some of his extraordinary accomplishments in the 1940s and 1950s here.
Our Towns in Italy
Boys’ & Girls’ Republic of Italy (La Repubblica dei Ragazzi) and Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Italy (La Città dei Ragazzi) were founded to provide, in Monsignor’s words, “a chance in life” to vulnerable and orphaned children. After months or years of living on their own, many of the children that Monsignor first encountered were unwilling to live under the supervision of adults.
Their independence inspired a visionary approach to youth development at the Towns: self-government. Children had the responsibility and opportunity to govern their own Towns.
In the decades following our founding, our organization has navigated the many challenges facing the world’s youth and evolved to meet their needs.
When more and more refugee and migrant youth began fleeing their home countries to seek safety and opportunity in Italy, our Towns in Italy grew to become a home for children from over 20 countries.
and has been shared with our
Partners in 12 countries and given
+45,000
young people
the chance to grow as
leaders in their own communities.
We are proud to celebrate our
77
year
legacy.
A Chance In Life embarks on the next phase of empowering young people through its first US-based program – The Village for New York City.
With the support of our donors, we continue to invest in our global Partners and provide new education and leadership initiatives for at-risk youth, continuing Monsignor Carroll-Abbing’s legacy of striving towards a day when every child in the world has “a chance in life.”
Our values
Again and again, A Chance In Life has evolved to meet the needs of each decade’s at-risk children with efficiency and compassion. Our core values, however, are ones that should feel familiar to anyone who has engaged with A Chance In Life over the years. Each plays a role (and spells out) our pursuit of GROWTH in order to serve more and more vulnerable youth.
Gratitude
Serving almost 6,000 children in 12 countries around the world is possible solely through the generosity of our supporters. Our gratitude for those who make our work possible – from our donors and volunteers to our Partners – underscores everything we do.
Respect
From our interactions with supporters to our programs for children, we are led by our respect for the inherent dignity of each person, and their capacity to make a difference in the world.
Openness
Our mission has blessed A Chance In Life with the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life. Our openness to new perspectives and partnerships continues to enable us to serve at-risk youth around the world with care and compassion.
Welcoming
Embracing global mindsets, celebrating diversity and cultivating inclusivity strengthens the work of our staff, board and programs.
Transparency
We are proud to have earned the highest possible ratings in Accountability & Transparency from Charity Navigator and Guidestar, the foremost charity evaluators in the United States. We work hard to always be 100% worthy of your trust.
Humor
Laughter is a universal language that uplifts spirits, creates connections and promotes well-being. We recognize the importance of bringing laughter and joy to our work.
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