30 years of ESI in the Netherlands: a fascinating story.
With a dual purpose: the diffusion of the Italian language and culture in the Netherlands and the offer of a school service to the Italian community and/or of Italian origin residing there.
The history of the Foundation (“Stichting”) ESI begins on 17 November 1993 with the notarial filing of the Statute at the Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce:
Item 2: “Lo scopo della Fondazione è […] the care of issues relating to the education in Italian of Italian citizens residing in the Netherlands and members of their families. It is in charge […] to the promotion of their training in Italian within schools […] aiming to protect their culture and identity. La Fondazione potrà inoltre svolgere ogni altra attività che abbia attinenza nel senso più ampio del termine con quanto sopra descritto”.
Few would have imagined that within a few years the ESI would have expanded its action:
to the organization of independent Italian language and culture courses, intended for students of the age groups corresponding to primary and secondary school and adult students;
to the promotion of Italian language courses included in the school programs of public and private schools in the Netherlands;
to the implementation of training and refresher activities for Italian language teachers in the Netherlands;
to the promotion of Italian culture in the Netherlands through the organization of conferences, theatrical performances and participation in events useful for this purpose.
All this was possible thanks to people, starting from 6 with which we started in 1993 to the dozens and dozens who have gradually committed themselves during these 30 years to achieve these objectives.
Since 1993 up to 2001 The start The history of ESI begins with the 1993/1994 school year, in which 4 teachers carry out 43 courses for a total of 429 students among children and adults in various locations in the Consular District of Rotterdam (Central-South Holland. ESI thus reactivates the courses carried out in previous years by COASCIT, body of direct consular emanation. Find out more
Since 2002 up to 2005 The expansion The story of ESI continues from the school year 2001/2002 with the incorporation of the activities previously carried out by the counterpart Egasit (operante nella Circoscrizione Consolare di Amsterdam – Olanda Nord e Est). 19 teachers carry out 118 courses for a total of 1200 pupils among children and adults in various locations throughout the Netherlands. Find out more
Since 2006 up to 2013 The difficult years The story of ESI continues from the school year 2005/2006 with the cessation of ministerial contributions for adult courses and the progressive reduction by the MAE of permanent ministerial teachers. We therefore witness the subsequent drastic reduction of ministerial contributions for elementary courses, following the global economic crisis. It thus progressively drops to just one 5 teachers for just 16 courses with 162 pupils. At the end of the period the last ministerial chair was also abolished. Find out more
Since 2014 up to 2019 The recovery The economic crisis of the previous two years has been overcome, ESI expands the offer of courses for children throughout the territory and begins the organization of self-financed courses for adults (that is, without any more ministerial contributions). At the end of the period they will be there 34 overall courses with 300 students e 14 teachers entirely dependent on ESI. In 2019 ESI is authorized by the Universities of Siena and Perugia to administer the CILS and CELI exams for the achievement of CEFR certifications Find out more
The two-year period 2020-2021 The COVID years These are the years of the pandemic and all in-person courses are disrupted and then forcibly closed according to the provisions of the competent Dutch authorities. ESI proceeds without delay to transform all active courses into distance learning courses (online), for both children and adults. Thanks to the professionalism and flexibility of the entire teaching staff, the success is astonishing: the number of courses, pupils, teachers and teaching hours remains unchanged! Find out more
Since 2022 to date Maturity The history of ESI continues by reporting all the traditional in-person courses for children, opening distance courses for children unable to attend traditional courses, and expanding the offer of online courses for adults. Currently 19 teachers ensure the carrying out of 42 courses for children, 8 annual courses for adults e 4 courses for adults preparing for certification exams. Find out more
ESI is currently operational on the territory of the Netherlands in two complementary modes: elementary and middle school courses intended for students of compulsory school age (5- 16 years) and courses intended for older students. The elementary/middle school courses are still partly financed with contributions allocated annually by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and for the remaining part by a paid participation fee (of families) of the students. By ministerial decision, from the 2013 courses for adults no longer receive contributions from Italian institutions and are therefore entirely financed by the students themselves. Not carrying out a commercial activity but a cultural service to the community, ESI does not make a profit (Non-profit moral entity), therefore fixing and using the aforementioned proceeds only to cover the expenses related to the management of the courses.
L’ESI è integrato nel “Sistema della Formazione Italiana nel Mondo” quale istituito dal MAECI, ed is the only organization in the Netherlands that manages a nationwide organization of Italian language and culture courses for children, adapted annually to the multiple needs of users, con riferimento a – famiglie di funzionari italiani presso Organizzazioni internazionali; – famiglie di professionisti italiani trasferitisi in Olanda; – famiglie di lingue/origini miste e/o solo in parte italiane; – famiglie integrate nella società olandese con origine e/o discendenza italiana; – famiglie di lingua non-italiana ma con particolare interesse all’Italia e/o alla lingua italiana.
For adults, ESI offers courses at all levels of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) both in-presence and at-distance, intended for: – studenti che desiderano apprendere l’Italiano per cultura ed interesse personale; – studenti che necessitano di un livello specifico di Italiano per ragioni professionali; – studenti che necessitano di una certificazione ufficiale di conoscenza dell’Italiano (of minimum level B1) to be able to apply for Italian citizenship.