Evolution: from a student initiative to a recognized association.
Aim. This project aims at understanding the mafia, why it is important to talk about it and how it relates to our studies. To do so the project aims at establishing a reflective and formative path that allows a group of young people to first explore and educate themselves and then transmit the knowledge gained from this first part, to the others. This initiative is designed to build upon an already quickly developing understanding connected to the culture of legality.
- Why is it important to talk about it?
- How does it relate with our studies?
- How can we communicate our knowledge to others?
Approaches. Before getting into the specifics of the setup of this project I would like to highlight the two approaches I will be using throughout this project. First of all it is a project in which we we learn together and hence rather than having me teaching others it will be all us of discussing and looking at information to try and understand it together. This because I am not an expert in the field and I strongly believe that it is a much more efficient approach to learning, understanding and remembering the things that are being discussed. Secondly, while all Italians or people familiar with the Italy are welcome to join and are actually encouraged be part of this project, it is designed in such a way that it is mainly directed to those that do not know much about Italy and its culture. This because one of the fundamental aspects of this project is also to deconstruct stereotypes attributed to the mafia, which I more often hear from people that associate Italians to “pizza, mozzarella and mafia”.
The set up. To comply with the aims of this project, the project is set up in two parts. The first part, educating ourselves, will be carried out in six sessions that discuss the various thematics relating to the mafia. The second part, educating others, will be a more hands-on approach aiming at consolidating what we have learned and what we will take from it and transfer it to others. This part will focus on the creation of collages summarizing our take ons from the six previous sessions and will honor the victims of the mafia. This collages will then be exhibited, preferably, in a public space where the residents and tourists of the city will be able to see and question and learn.
2021-2022. The project will continue with an expansion of the initial aim, creating a close collaboration with Mentonese schools and greater interaction with the residents of Menton. As the collaboration with Libera Imperia becomes stronger, the two copresidents have started to spread the word of the work done in Menton and the steps they will take in the upcoming year.
They have also changed the initiative's status to a recognised association. On 2 june 2021, the two copresidents met and went to the prefecture to have the initiative recognised as an association. This is extremely important as this year, with collaborations and parterships with various schools, it is necessary to have a legally valid status as to coherently achieve the aim of the association. You can here find the procès verbal:
