The project promoted the ethics of coexistence, creating a cultural and social model in which the multiplicity of cultures, far from being transformed into an element of disintegration, has become a fruitful source of integral human liberation. The project has produced direct benefits for the community that lives in Salento. On the one hand, foreigners, on the other, students and citizens of Lecce. Through the organization of cultural and musical initiatives, opportunities for meeting and mutual knowledge for citizenship have been created. In particular, the students of the De Giorgi scientific high school worked together with the representatives of some of the migrant communities present in Lecce, consolidating relationships and starting new friendships, with the aim of moving from a negative vision of diversity, which generates rejection, to a positive vision, which is also an opportunity for enrichment and social growth.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Enhancing the cultural identities of migrants:
  giving voice to the story of oneself, of one’s own culture of origin, of resources and of critical issues related to one’s condition as migrant women and men in our territory. Change the role and perception of migrants from weak, marginalized and sometimes dangerous subjects, to people with a strong cultural identity to be valued, with a history imbued with meanings;
• Creating socialization networks and strengthening personal bonds:
  the participatory and shared organization of social, cultural, artistic and recreational initiatives has the intent to strengthen or create new bonds and friendships, a true antidote to xenophobia and racism;
• Facilitating social inclusion processes:
  through the many opportunities created by meeting and disseminating history, culture, literature, poetry, cinema, music and gastronomy, we intend to stimulate curiosity and interest of indigenous citizens towards migrant populations;
• Start professionalization courses in the organization of events, entertainment, communication and intercultural mediation

ACTIVITIES’ 

1. Creation of a multicultural staff
2. Workshops with schools
3. Ten cultural events dedicated to the countries of origin of foreign communities
4. Video production made by students
5. Newspaper articles made by students
6. Review of widespread multicultural events