o CONTEXT

Camini: history and recent developments

Camini is a small hillside village located in the Locride area (, Southern ), which until recent times was characterised by poverty and chronic depopulation.

Calabria has long been recognised as one of the most economically- deprived and under-developed regions, not only of Italy, but of western Europe as a whole. By way of example, the income per capita and local government resources of Calabria are both among the very lowest in Europe. For decades, Locride – and Southern Italy in general – suffered mass emigration, a direct result of the extreme poverty and lack of job opportunities. Over this same period, the area was also blighted by the activities of organised crime groups, which had a negative impact on the wider region and beyond. Nowadays, thanks to the activities of civil society organisations and growing community resilience, the situation is changing. While the overall pattern remains uneven across the region, the village of Camini itself is undergoing something of a renaissance. Camini has experienced real and meaningful social and economic growth as a result of its reception and integration of third-country nationals programme, which it developed broadly following the model of change initiated by its globally renowned neighbouring villages of and Badolato. For the past twenty years, southern Italian villages such as there which have embraced refugee resettlement programmes have experienced economic growth and expansion, as the local municipalities implemented long-term goals with their new migrant communities. Working together, migrants and local Italians have rejuvenated these former ‘ghost towns’ – which have now become global symbols of internationalism, humanitarian aid and solidarity. The local Italians have distinguished themselves through their hospitality and in the leadership that they have shown in making their new residents feel welcome - providing them with housing (in the newly restored houses previously abandoned by emigration), training and job opportunities, as well as entrepreneurial education programmes specifically designed for asylum seekers and refugees. Like Riace, Badolato and other small towns and villages, Camini was on the verge of extinction before the refugees arrived. The success of the reception system and the widespread migrants’ reception centres, designed to combat social exclusion and promote integration, led to the village itself undergoing a significant change process. The locaI Italian population, though small in number, began to shape its own destiny, as they recognised the migrants’ struggle to survive. In the first year, more than 80 new residents arrived in Camini from the Middle East and Africa. Indeed, a significant number of the new migrant population were refugees who had fled from the Syrian conflict. A distinguishing feature that sets Camini apart from its neighbours is its total commitment to leadership, from the bottom up. Unlike the situation in some neighbouring villages, a citizen-led initiative and local entrepreneurship have long been the driving force behind the change process in Camini.

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EUROCOOP Servizi Società Cooperativa Sociale: Background information about the organisation

EUROCOOP Servizi Società Cooperativa Sociale (henceforth “EUROCOOP”) is a social cooperative providing a fully validated reception service to migrants, which has as its primary focus ensuring the independence and integration of asylum seekers and refugees. In this, it has the support of a team with complementary professional skills, starting with those that are mandatory within the framework of the SPRAR (Sistema di protezione per richiedenti asilo e rifugiati - Italian Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees) programme. In addition, there are qualified external experts, ranging from international lawyers to professional social inclusion managers, from youth workers active at the EU level, to anti-discrimination policy advisors.

The organisation offers a compelling 20-year history of social inclusion of people from various vulnerable categories. From 2011, it started to focus increasingly on welcoming asylum seekers, refugees and unaccompanied minors.

The organisation’s staff took the initiative in greeting the newcomers with open arms and open homes from the very beginning. As a result of all this hard work, the mixed and varied population of Camini now focuses on inclusion and repopulation, while the village is thriving - relatively, at least – and a positive outlook again thanks to its refugees.

In focusing on a range of social, architectural, and artistic initiatives, the transnational cooperation typified by the refugees’ activities has also paved the way for a programme of youth activities often led by the young people themselves. The village and surrounding area have indeed become a protagonist of their own future and are experiencing harmonious and sustainable growth.

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o YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Youth participation and the European dimension

In the past two years, EUROCOOP has consciously promoted a process that has the direct involvement of its staff, of the beneficiaries of the projects already underway and, last but not least, of the entire local community. A carefully thought-out youth participation strategy has been designed and is now implemented. The first phase of this strategy involved intensive training on the Erasmus+ programme, particularly covering its youth strand and mainstreaming inclusion activities. The first two training sessions on the Key Actions 1 and KA3 (Youth section) of the Erasmus+ programme and the EU Youth Strategy were held on August 12th, 2017, within the framework of the local celebrations organised in Camini for “International Youth Day - Youth Building Peace”. Qualified trainers and youth project managers active at the European and international levels ensured that professional expertise was present throughout. During the summer of 2018, two further sessions also covering labour and migrant inclusion - through the Erasmus+ programme and other EU new initiatives such as DiscoverEU and the coming (at the time) European Solidarity Corps - were organised in partnership with the international organisation “Projects Abroad”, the transmediterranean association “Maydan”, the local units of the Europe Direct offices based in the Region, and the Erasmus+ EPALE Platform’s Ambassador for the Calabria Region. An initial report in Italian about the training activities is here available: https://ec.europa.eu/epale/it/content/formazione-e-lavoro-nei-contesti-dellaccoglienza- calabrese.

As a direct outcome of these activities, several partnerships have already been formed, supporting initiatives and consistent activities in Camini in key areas relevant to the transnational mobility activities. Among the main organisations are:

- the international organisation “Projects Abroad” organising youth projects and hosting volunteers coming from more than 35 countries to support solidarity projects jointly run by locally recruited “Projects Abroad” staff and EUROCOOP specialised staff and social workers; - the Italian Section of Amnesty international, for two workcamps on anti-racism and human rights education for 26 (in 2018) + 40 (in 2019) young people from across Europe, who gathered in Camini in August 2018 and 2019; - RE.CO.SOL Association – Rete dei Comuni Solidali, a network of Italian municipalities working on the promotion of the democratic participation of migrant communities and solidarity activities, for some of the activities of the “SOLIDA” project funded by the European Commission within the framework of the “Europe for Citizens 2014 – 2020” programme; - JIMUEL - Internet Medics For Life for medical assistance directly targeted at those migrants who are beneficiaries of the organisations’ projects; - Italian Unit of the French NGO Médécins du Monde for the medical and psychological assistance to those migrants who are beneficiaries of our projects; - transmediterranean association “MAYDAN” for the organisation of the “International Youth Day 2018” and the international event “La Siria vista da qui - Syria seen from here” including book presentations, testimonies by Syrian refugees, video screenings and a Debate for Young People (so-called “Junior Debate” format); - Europe Direct local desks for infodays, dissemination activities and publications on EU initiatives; - the Florence-based NGO "COSPE - Cooperazione per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti / Co-operation for the Development of Emerging Countries" for the field visits as part of the Summer School “La Cooperazione nel Mediterraneo: Progettare nel Mediterraneo per uno

3 sviluppo equo e sostenibile - Cooperation in the Mediterranean Area: Project development in the Mediterranean area for a fair and sustainable development”; - Sabir Fest for the international event “La Siria e la Calabria: due mondi si incontrano” held in October 2018 as part of the “SABIR FEST - Mediterranean Culture and Citizenship Festival”; - Open Calabria for the Regional Tourism Forum which took place in 2018; - the Municipality of Cremona for a partnership with its Department for Social Affairs which focused on one of their beneficiaries of the UNHCR’s resettlement programme within the framework SPRAR Project 2017-2019 (Italian Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees) being accepted on an internship programme of intercultural mediation, in which he received training by the senior staff of EUROCOOP; - the National Geographic Channel for the seminal report and video “This Italian Village Was Dying … Until the Refugees Came” published in 2016; - the University of Naples for research, publication and studies on repopulation of rural areas, fragile economies and the social inclusion of young migrants; - Loughborough University (UK) hosting one of its Ph.D. students from its School of Business and Economics for field research on migrants and technology to be conducted in Camini.

In the first week of November 2018, EUROCOOP in cooperation with “Projects Abroad” and the transmediterranean organisation “MAYDAN” promoted the “Camini Community Retreat”, the first ever initiative of this kind organised in the area, comprising of hatha yoga sessions, healing sounds with Tibetan singing bowls, assisted stretching, and mindfulness sessions aimed at reuniting with one’s own emotions towards a state of wellbeing and peace. The programme was led by qualified international trainers and complemented by field visits organised to the local artisan shops that animate the streets in the village. It attracted participants from across Camini’s many communities and further afield, who unanimously endorsed the proposal for a follow-up event.

Also is 2018, EUROCOOP co-organised the “Camini - UN International Youth Day 2018 #SafeSpaces4Youth” to celebrate the awareness day designated by the United Nations in 1999 with the adoption of Resolution 54/120 and globally observed since August 12th, 2000. The purpose of the day was to draw attention to a specific set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth and focused on the theme of International Youth Day 2018: “Safe Spaces for Youth”. The point of departure was official recognition of the contribution of young people to preventing conflict and supporting inclusion. Indeed, the celebration and format adopted in Camini offered youth the space to discuss and collaborate on current cultural and legal issues that particularly affect their age group. Participants were given the opportunity to brainstorm and recognise their contributions to preventing conflict, supporting inclusion and social justice, as well as sustainable peace.

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After the initial International Youth Day success with “Projects Abroad” in 2017, the second annual event was part of the main national celebration in Italy, which was itself in response to the UN’s global invitation to organise activities at the grassroot levels around the theme universally proposed. On this occasion, EUROCOOP benefited from the support of more than 20 partner organisations and media outlets, which succeeded in reaching 300 people through a varied programme of five youth workshops and exhibitions.

About 80% of the participants were young people below the age of 30, which is particularly significant for a village such as Camini, which had long become accustomed to an ageing and fast-shrinking population, as young people simply left to pursue their lives elsewhere. How great the contrast with the present commitment, which is to provide young people with opportunities to engage, and inspire them to contribute to, and participate in, the design of a truly youth-friendly community.

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On the 12th of August 2019, For the third consecutive year Camini hosted the “International Youth Day” celebrations, promoted by an even more extensive partnership than in previous years. Among the many public and private bodies involved alongside the cooperative EUROCOOP Servizi “Jungi Mundu” of Camini (RC), the Proloco “Passarelli Rinaldo Sisto” of Camini (RC), the Europe Direct Centre of , EDIC Calabria & Europa Gioiosa Jonica (RC), the association Eurokom Calabria & Europa of Gioiosa Jonica (RC), the associations JIMUEL Onlus - Internet Medics for Life, the High School Technical Technological Institute "Giovanni Malafarina" of Soverato (CZ), APICE, Open Calabria, Amica Sofia, FOCS – Labour and Training, the social cooperative society PATHOS Mondi Meticci di (RC), the cultural association “Terre Vivaci” of Rome, the Casa della Poetessa / House of Poetry of Riace (RC), the Ciavula magazine (media partner) and with the patronage of the Municipality of Camini (RC) and the presence of local institutions.

The theme proposed at the international level for the year 2019 was that of global education and quality education as captured in the slogan “Transforming Education” which draws inspiration from the objective of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development from the programme of sustainable development that 193 UN member countries (including Italy) signed in 2015. This objective is aimed at “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

In 2019, the programme focused on the work of the local community as regards education as a vehicle for social transformation and also the growth of societies that have been marginalised because of their geo-strategic, economic and historical location. It is a significant opportunity to present the first results achieved with the European programmes "Erasmus +" and "European Solidarity Corps", which are currently being implemented through the six concrete projects currently under development. The case of Camini is particularly significant as, together with the challenges of repopulation and reconstruction of the architectural fabric as well as of welfare, it was possible - through the collective path called “Camini Giovane” - to also work towards lowering the average age of the population, whereas the general picture in Italy is that of an ageing population, as in other southern European countries.

To honour the theme proposed by the Organisation of the United Nations for the year 2019 in an even more decisive manner, a partnership was consolidated with the Cultural Association “Terre Vivaci” of Rome, which will also allow Camini to stage for the first time, as one of the highlights of the celebration of 12 August, the edutainment event “STESI DALLE TESI© Il Bel Sapere” which aims to unite the public through the sharing of degree theses from different eras and disciplines.

The innovative format has been tried and tested in 5 Italian cities since 2014, and focuses on re-circulating and re-evaluating dissertation degree theses, which are a typical feature of the Italian University system. In particular, in the case of the higher. Degree, the “Laurea

6 specialistica” (5 years degree), the final degree examination must include the discussion of a dissertation (called “tesi”) written by the student under the supervision of an academic member of staff (relatore). This hard work too often remains buried in the archives, libraries or drawers of graduates, so the idea of “STESI DALLE TESI” is to make them available to anyone, especially in contexts such as rural and inland areas where there are no universities.

A further objective was the promotion of culture as a common good through a lively and original entertainment format, of great attraction for an intergenerational public, and this takes place by sharing stories, knowledge and passions to help strengthen a community model founded on beauty of sharing and participation.

Furthermore, the presentation of the group work on the “Millennium Development Goals – AGORA” by the young volunteers of the European Solidarity Corps in service at Camini thanks to the projects “Camini Corps: Chance - Creativity - Community for Solidarity Actions” and “Skozi solidarnost v boljšo realnost”, of the Committee of Guarantors on European Solidarity Bodies and of the “Less Posts More Postcards” campaign against hate speech through inviting people, especially young people, to rediscover the joy of writing positive messages in paper and experience the emotion of receiving postcards in the post, in contrast to the daily routine of electronic postings have also been included in the official programme.

In addition to the specific partnership and ad hoc events so far organised by the organisation, what is particularly relevant - with regard to further growth at the EU level through the future implementation of transnational mobility projects - is also the work conducted at the grassroots level on a daily basis by the organisation’s social workers and international volunteers. This work focuses in particular on youth participation and empowering those minors and young people with a migrant-background now resident in Camini.

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The key to the success of the refugee project in Camini under the auspices of the EUROCOOP organisation is the transformation of informal altruistic approaches into motors of change at the collective level, through structured solidarity and intercultural awareness activities. Camini is, indeed, a landmark pioneering project. It may embrace more than a dozen languages spoken by people of many different colours, ages and cultures, but what is absolutely essential to the Camini experience is that it attributes the utmost importance to solidarity among people.

As noted above, projects such as this have led to the rebirth of rural economies in Southern Italy, which had become all but moribund. This way, migrant and refugee projects, supported by local staff and international volunteers, are providing a new lease of life to rural villages which had been abandoned over two centuries. These villages are repopulating and becoming lively communities once again - attractive places in which to live, work, and raise a family.

o SOLIDARITY ACTIVITIES

The “Jungi Mundu” centre

In July 2011, the organisation EUROCOOP launched a comprehensive migration project, which paved the way for the current operations centre “Jungi Mundu” – which means “Join the World” in the local Calabrese dialect. The project facilitates asylum seekers’ reception and integration, adopting a “scattered hospitality” approach, in contrast to the transitory way of life that typifies the crowded migration centres in many larger cities. The “Jungi Mundu” centre is acknowledged as a safe haven for the new residents, especially families and minors, who in turn have actively contributed to community development since their arrival.

The “Jungi Mundu” centre is open day and night, to both local native Italian and migrants, and has extended its reach through workshops and workrooms throughout the village. Furthermore, as the population of the village has continued to rise, the local primary school 8 has been renovated and re-opened, for children from both refugee and local Italian families. Otherwise, they would have had to take the school bus elsewhere to attend classes, as remains the case for secondary school students.

As noted above, the single largest grouping of refugees is from Syria. Other refugees originate from Africa (Nigeria, Libya, Mali, Ghana, Niger, Gambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia), central Asia (Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iraq), and eastern Europe (Ukraine). Since 2016, more families from those countries have arrived, thus demonstrating in everyday practice the effectiveness of the UNHCR resettlement and the SPRAR (Sistema di protezione per richiedenti asilo e rifugiati - Italian Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees) programmes as implemented in Camini.

In the past few years, the organisation EUROCOOP has been ever more successful in delivering real and meaningful community outreach, through social inclusion programmes implemented at the local, regional and international level. Local Italians and the new migrant population collaborate and bond through activities such as the daily crèche, cooking, arts, reconstruction, and ceramic laboratories. Activities include a homework club, tending the local didactic farm and fruit and vegetable plots, helping vulnerable people with medical visits, Italian lessons, women’s club, computer literacy, and supporting local entrepreneurship. Jungi Mundu’s plans for the future include sharing of results at the international level, starting with cooperation between beneficiaries (and their communities of origin) and the local Italian population, and highlighting the wide range of real and practical social benefits to all residents (health, education, employment, and housing).

The involvement of young people in solidarity and volunteering activities at the local level

In 2016, EUROCOOP also began a partnership with the international organisation “Projects Abroad” (www.projects-abroad.it/), one of the world’s largest international volunteering and internship providers, which opened an office in Camini to support local staff in hosting the always eager cadre of international volunteers. Camini’s first wave of volunteers comprised 26 young people, which number grew to 87 the following year and then 102 in 2018.

Most volunteers are in the age range 18 to 30, and come from the following countries: Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA. The volunteers support many activities, including language classes, building restoration, child care, educational events, intergenerational leisure activities, sport, women’s empowerment, homework assistance, local food production, and the foundation of a new library.

Volunteers who devote their time and commitment to the projects implemented in Camini have also helped with the re-design and re-opening of the artisan shops which represent a significant resumption of commercial activity. This is a further example of the community revitalisation programme that local Italians, international volunteers and migrants have worked together on in an intergenerational and sustainable perspective. This is a virtuous circle which is now framed into long-term strategies and policies, and which sees migration together with transnational youth mobility as positive factors enhancing the whole society economically, socially and culturally.

EUROCOOP sincerely believes, on the basis of its practice and feedback to date, that it offers young people a truly enriching - possibly even life-transforming - opportunity. In Camini, where help is very clearly needed, young people have the opportunity to engage directly with different realities, which provides them with a significant non-formal learning experience through which they can enhance their own personal, educational, social and civic development. 9

In one of the poorest and most under-developed regions of Europe, a project such as this - with its primary focus on social inclusion and a new, participatory model of community and sustainable development - can open a myriad of opportunities for the young volunteers directly involved.

The organisation is looking to build further on this in the future and has already developed plans for a special focus on the social inclusion of disadvantaged and under-represented youth coming from minority and/or diversity backgrounds. EUROCOOP and its staff are also keen to benefit from shared experience, in a collective and system-wide way, via the Erasmus+ programme, the Youthpass recognition system, and the possibilities of the new European Solidarity Corps (ESC) initiative for implementation of inclusive projects consistent with its area of commitment and future development plans. For these reasons, the organisation is currently working with young professionals, who originate from the area and have studied or worked abroad. They have gained invaluable international experience and are now willing to transfer their knowledge to our community development programmes and activities. At the same time, the organisation and the whole community can also count on the future involvement of former international volunteers, who are eager to return to Camini for a longer period so as to make an even greater contribution to the project.

The ultimate goals of the organisation fall into three broad categories. First, to extend the reach of the project and involve a larger number of beneficiaries (migrants and refugees), while remaining true to its core values and principles. Secondly, to build on our achievements so far in terms of inclusion and community development, especially for the most vulnerable youth and all those with a migrant background. And last but not least, to further develop strategic partnerships, including those that will lead to an even greater number of volunteers internationally bringing to this unique project here in Camini even more skills, experience, and enthusiasm.

Practical arrangements for the volunteers to be hosted in Camini

Suitable accommodation is provided to all young people (volunteers, trainees, interns, researchers, …) involved in transnational mobility activities. Standard accommodation offered includes a shared room (usually two or three-bed), fully equipped, with free Wi-Fi Internet connection, located in the historical centre of the village. The rooms have been completely renovated by our cooperative through a social project involving reconstruction of houses abandoned over the years by mass to emigration to Northern regions and countries. In case of special needs, individual rooms or studios will be provided. All the rooms and apartments are also provided with towels, blankets, pillows, and sheets. Most of the houses have a view of the sea or hills. Air conditioning is also available for the summer season. A maintenance service is available at all hours of the day. Qualified technicians, electricians, and other trades people are near to the site to help when needed. The accommodation made available to all young people complies with the qualitative and safety standards established by the organisation with its partners in a specific contract and meets all appropriate national and EU rules and standards.

All young people taking part in the projects and transnational mobility activities also have the benefit of complimentary meals, eating three times per day at the “Jungi Mundu” restaurant together with the professional staff and other international volunteers. Local and international cooks are onsite to cater to those with particular diets or food allergies (vegetarian, lactose-free, gluten-free, vegan, etc.) upon arrival. International breakfast is also available.

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Private transportation is also available on request due to the current infrequency of public transport. A private car transfer from the airport is organised with one of the three cars that the organisation makes available. While in the village, public transport is not needed as all the services and houses are within a 15 minutes walk distance and a bicycle-sharing service is also available.

At present, the main public transport available is:

• LOCAL TRAINS: “Trenitalia” regional trains stop at “- ” train station (13 km) or “Caulonia” train station (20 km).

• LOCAL / NATIONAL BUSES: “Federico S.p.A.” and “Troiolo Bus” companies (Bus stop: Riace Marina about 10 km from Camini) connecting the Locride area with the main Italian cities (Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Turin, Pisa, etc.)

• FLIGHTS: the nearest airport is Lamezia Terme “Sant’Eufemia” (SUF); the other airports nearby are those of Reggio Calabria or Airport of the Strait (REG) and of Crotone - Sant’Anna or Airport “Pitagora” (CRV).

o CONTACTS

E-MAIL: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/jungimundu/ https://twitter.com/jungimundu https://www.instagram.com/jungi_mundu/

Address: via Giulia, 2 – 89040 Camini (RC) – Italy Google MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/Wse8uQgQ2FN2

o BIBLIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY

“Syrian refugees revive Italian villages” | Al Jazeera English https://youtu.be/0fD62wxk1TI (English) https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/syrian-refugees-revive-italian-village-camini- 160830065301496.html (English)

“Più di un Paese (More than a Village)” | 2019 Documentary by Enrico Elson https://youtu.be/HAXBKB0BOg4 (English / Italian)

“Camini revit grace aux migrants” | Ouest-France TV https://video-streaming.orange.fr/actu-politique/camini-revit-grace-aux-migrants- CNT000000Ulywv.html (French / Italian)

Migrants Revive Dying Italian Towns by Tori Travers, South EU Summit (10 April 2018) https://www.southeusummit.com/europe/italy/migrants-revive-dying-italian-towns/

Italian towns thriving thanks to refugees by Justin Salhani, Think Progress (20 June 2017) https://thinkprogress.org/these-four-italian-towns-are-thriving-thanks-to-refugees-d6051585f352/

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