This September the Rome branch of the Catholic relief agency Caritas will be running free training classes for non-European citizens from developing world countries who have a permit to stay in Italy but are not here under political asylum.

The courses fall into three categories.

Immigrants can train as a pizza chef, taking a course of 310 hours, half of which is work experience. Registration is already open and classes begin on 14 September.

Lessons in Italian language and culture are also on offer. There are courses of between 100 and 120 hours for different levels of Italian; tuition will take place in the afternoons at the Centro Ascolto Stranieri (Caritas Counselling Centre) in Via delle Zoccolette 16 and Via Aurelia 773. Courses will begin on 21 September.

Finally,