During the 2025 Italian-Albanian FSY conference, 14 to 18 years old youth prepared 1250 school kits to donate

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organizes a national event for youth 14 to 18 years old known as “FSY” (For the Strength of Youth). This year, Italy and Albania decided to organize a combined session for 2025 in Grosseto, Italy.

This event aims to give youth the opportunity to meet and develop their talents, strengthen their friendship, in order to build their faith in Jesus Christ, and serve as His disciples.

An important part of FSY is to have the opportunity to selflessly serve others; that happened in the morning of Wednesday, July 30, 2025, when 550 youth, divided into different groups, assembled 1,250 school kits consisting of educational materials such as backpacks, notebooks, pencil cases, and much more.

FSY organizers, working closely with the National Communication Department (specifically from Italy Milan East Stake, Italy Venice Stake, Italy Palermo Stake, and Italy Alessandria Stake offices) and the Humanitarian Services, made it possible to identify and contact charitable associations whose aim is to help children in first grade with the educational materials needed to start their school year.

For this project, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collaborated with the following charitable organizations:

Palermo:

“Scuola elementare Sperone Pertini–Palermo” (50 kits) “Consorzio Sale della Terra” (26 kits)

Torino:

“Cooperativa Sociale Liberi tutti” (140 kits)

Pordenone:

“Il nostro pane quotidiano” (250 kits) “Emporio solidale Pordenone” (20 kits) “Caritas Diocesana Pordenone” (50 kits)

“Casa Famiglia Arcobaleno Pordenone” (40 kits)

Lodi:

“CAV Lodi” (20 kits) “CRS Lodi” (25 kits)

Milano:

“Progetto Arca” (50 kits)

Monza:

“Centro mamma Rita” (20 kits)

and 24 other associations in the Monza township (20 kits each).

During the service activity, among the youth there was a wonderful atmosphere of collaboration, gratitude, and joy.

We asked some of the youth how they felt: “Hi. My name is Elea Deli, from Albania. When I learned about the service activity, I felt great joy; I was very happy!

While I was filling a backpack, during the service activity, I was reminded of a scripture in the Book of Mormon, Mosiah 2:17. Jesus said: ‘… when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.’ Serving little children in elementary school, we are also serving our Father, helping them.

I’m really grateful for these opportunities to serve; I’m grateful to those who organized it, and, most of all, I’m very grateful for God’s love. I know those children will be very blessed not only by the school supplies they receive, but also by the accompanying blessings. I know the Lord remembers them and loves them very much.”

Camilla Alfieri told us: “I’m 14 years old, and this is my first FSY … There were many rooms with a lot of young people engaged in preparing backpacks filled with school supplies; and I could see they were very happy to do this for children in need! Even those who had heavier tasks, like moving

backpacks from one room to the other, were happy to do this, because they knew that it was for a good cause.”

Giorgio di Martino, at his first FSY, said: “This activity, this service, was fun! There were long tables, and many young people rushing to them and wanting to help. This feeling helped all of us feel closer … because we knew that this service was for children in need. And then, when later we did the quality control, we found very few mistakes, because we were as one; and this is what I liked the most. I felt helpful!”

Giovanni Andrea Chessa, 16 years old, at his second FSY, said: “I felt joy and excitement thinking about how useful the backpacks would be for the children… During the activity, I was focused on filling the pencil cases; that was my task. And then I felt much joy; I loved this activity!”

Beatrice Perez told us: “It’s always nice to serve others and know that, even through small things, I’ve done something good. I felt helpful; it was a very spiritual experience; even if we were not doing something ‘spiritual’, like scripture reading, I strongly felt the Spirit, because I was serving others.”