Kati Rod is an honors agricultural enterprise and worldwide enterprise pupil from Kennedale, Texas. With an Honors School Research Overseas Grant, Rod not too long ago completed a semester overseas in Rome, Italy with the College of Arkansas Rome Middle. Whereas in Rome, she was invited to go to a social cooperative, a Cooperativa Al di là dei Sogni, as a category and weekend tour. Rod had the chance to volunteer on the cooperative, interview the proprietor and spend a number of unforgettable days with the staff. Be taught extra about her solo journey and the way she found the braveness to not be distinctive.
The Cooperativa Al di là dei Sogni is a social cooperative in Sessa Arunca, Italy. Quite than specializing in promoting a product, it’s centered on creating an area for its workers. Its mission to assist individuals makes it distinctive, however being distinctive is the very last thing that founder Simmaco Perillo needs. He desires of his enterprise mannequin being replicated world wide.
Simmaco and his spouse Paula have constructed a spot the place individuals are central, and second chances are high customary. His aim was to “present jobs to individuals to provide a special type of shine.” The Cooperative employs these with psychological disabilities, prison information, and present inmates who’ve the chance for work placements. Moreover, the Cooperative sits on a bit of property that was as soon as an asset to the native mafia group, the Camorra.
A Place Past Desires
The goat on the appropriate was a new child the primary time I went to Al di là dei Sogni. By the point I went again, he was twice the scale and thriving all on his personal!
I realized about Al di là dei Sogni in my International Changemakers class on the College of Arkansas’ Rome Middle this semester. We initially took a category journey to go to the cooperative together with a number of different repurposed mafia lands within the space. Throughout this time, I spoke to certainly one of their volunteers, Giulio, and he informed me how the cooperative had impacted his life and gave me some perception into the corporate’s mission. As soon as again in Rome, I made a decision I needed to return to be taught extra concerning the firm and the way it achieves its distinctive objectives. I spoke to my professor about it, and she or he created a venture for me to finish and arrange my expertise at Al di là dei Sogni. Together with her assist, I used to be capable of spend two days staying and volunteering on the cooperative.
The title of the Cooperative displays its mission as “al di là dei sogni,” or “past desires.” Throughout our dialog, I requested Simmaco what gave him the braveness to create a spot past what he alone might think about. He informed me that the phrase “braveness” in Latin means “coronary heart.” So, to do something “with braveness,” actually means to do it “with coronary heart.” Due to this fact, whenever you discover ways to do issues with ardour, you have already got braveness. Which means that everybody who’s doing one thing that they’re enthusiastic about, resides life with braveness. Simmaco added that everybody can relate to the sensation you get whenever you assist somebody. Why not make it his job?
Erasmus picked lettuce for our dinner on Friday night time and by no means didn’t wave at me on the other finish of the desk.
Al di là dei Sogni at present employs about forty individuals on and off the farm. When the enterprise first began, Simmaco relied on social companies and the nationwide well being care system in his seek for workers. Nonetheless, as his enterprise grew, his mission unfold and shortly individuals got here to him. Right here is the place the Cooperative excels in constructing the enterprise round its individuals. There isn’t any set variety of positions or designated roles. Quite, as individuals come, an area is created for them.
The Cooperative itself presents a hostel, restaurant, and a number of other merchandise which might be made on the property. Moreover, they host faculty teams, trainings, retreats, and different occasions. Additionally they promote packing containers referred to as Pacco alla Camorra (Package deal to the Camorra), which might be collections of merchandise made on the Cooperative and their companion operations. The names on the packing containers honor and unfold consciousness about their mission of repurposing land that was as soon as utilized by the Camorra.
“Through la mafia” right here is ironic becuase “through” in italian means road. This road that after was once used as a mafia asset is now a method used to kick them out and reveal group assist in opposition to the Camorra.
The Cooperativa Al di là dei Sogni has grow to be profitable due to its deep respect for individuals, its want to beat mafia historical past, and the worth of the relationships that it has created. Transferring ahead, Simmaco’s hope is that the Cooperative wouldn’t be praised for its uniqueness, however somewhat grow to be certainly one of many replications world wide. He hopes that related locations shall be created to serve all individuals, in all places.
“You Have to Begin to Dream Once more”
Sundown on the highway resulting in Al di là dei Sogni.
“It’s worthwhile to begin to dream once more” was Simmaco’s reply after I requested him if he had any recommendation for younger individuals who need to make a distinction however usually are not certain find out how to begin. This had been a recurring theme in my life not too long ago, and when Simmaco stated that I might really feel the load of conviction in my chest because the air left my lungs. Desires and group have echoed their method via my semester and my expertise at Al di là dei Sogni was no totally different.
“It’s worthwhile to begin to dream once more.” As Simmaco put it, dreaming just isn’t about taking in the fantastic thing about the sky, however about believing in your self. Dreaming is doing all the things with ardour, with braveness, and with intentionality.
“It’s worthwhile to begin to dream once more, however you haven’t to dream alone.”
This was the second half of Simmaco’s recommendation. He informed me that whenever you share your dream it’s going to be actual as a result of it’ll grow to be a part of your group. If not, it’s simply you alone.
View from the sector the place I planted onions with Daniele. Road with vivid blue sky: Sundown on the highway resulting in Al di là dei Sogni.
Constructing Group With out Phrases
Gaetano fastened my damaged door that was not truly damaged, and as a substitute taught me how my door labored on my second day at The Cooperative.
I noticed this precept put into apply whereas staying at Al di là dei Sogni. From the best way that everybody had a seat on the desk regardless of how small that desk was. Critically, there have been eight of us sitting round a desk the scale of an extra-large pizza one afternoon. I heard it in each determined try at a dialog with the American woman who got here to Italy understanding zero Italian. I felt it when my coronary heart sank saying goodbye to folks that I had met solely forty-eight hours earlier.
Whereas I used to be at Al di là dei Sogni, I made the good connections with individuals I might barely converse to. I really like speaking to strangers. In eating places, on the road, within the airport–I really like listening to their tales and views. That is without doubt one of the issues that I’ve missed most whereas being in Italy as a result of I don’t converse Italian. Probably the most heart-breaking feeling I’ve come throughout this semester is the real look on somebody’s face when they’re making an attempt to make you perceive however you can not comprehend their phrases. Nonetheless, I’ve additionally been capable of finding an incredible magnificence within the effort that overcomes language obstacles. I’ve been actually humbled this semester by the quantity of hand motions and chunky sentences that have been used to speak, and it was no totally different at Al di là dei Sogni.
Antonio wears a crimson coat and chef’s hat when within the kitchen, and I’ve by no means seen a extra excellent icon of a chef.
Nonetheless, the few workers at Al di là dei Sogni who spoke English made certain that I used to be taken care of throughout my keep. Monica took care of my schedule and at all times made certain that I had all the things I wanted. Apart from making certainly one of my favourite meals in Italy, Antonio, the chef at Al di là dei Sogni, spoke English and was comfortable to make dialog with me each time our paths crossed. The primary night time I arrived, he launched himself and shared his story of studying English in London and the way he ended up working at Al di là dei Sogni. On the finish of our dialog, Antonio stated one thing that I believe is relevant in all places you go: “all of us have our issues, however all of us have massive hearts.” That’s the mission of Al di là dei Sogni and I imagine it’s a good summation of what group seems like worldwide.
Errands and Ice Cream
These are the lads who got here zooming via the gates to choose me up for ice cream. Francesco is on the appropriate, and Mino is on the left.
The following morning, I began work at 8:30. I had no concept what that entailed, all I knew was that I used to be going to the manufacturing unit. As we walked in, Monica handed me a hair internet, a plastic apron, and booties to cowl my sneakers. She launched me to Anna, a brief blonde girl with a candy smile who took care of me all day. She instructed me to chop strawberries, taught me find out how to correctly peel the skins of lemons, and made certain I had a entrance row seat to how all the things labored contained in the manufacturing unit. That is additionally the place I bought to know Francesco, a father and the one in command of working the massive machine that cooks the jam on the manufacturing unit.
Later within the afternoon when all of the work was accomplished, in true “dad trend,” Francesco requested me if I needed to make a journey into city for gelato with him and Mino, one other man I met the night time earlier than. I’m by no means one to say no to ice cream of any form, so after all I stated sure. An hour later, the lads got here rolling up in model with the home windows down, sun shades up, and music blaring. I knew I used to be in for an journey. Regardless that I don’t converse Italian and they didn’t converse a lot English, it was certainly one of my favourite adventures in Italy. It was on this journey that I started to grasp why Italians are so eager on speaking with their fingers: it actually does assist get the message throughout. After caring for the pickups and returns on the mall we went seeking the gelato store. As soon as we discovered it, Francesco didn’t just like the look of the gelato that was at that stand so Mino led us down the highway close to the seaside to a spot that he liked. He was proper, it was a few of the finest gelato I had in Italy and the view of the ocean was unbelievable.
These are the rows of beans that Daniele and I planted with the assistance of the highschool college students.
Once we bought again to the Cooperative, the variety of tables within the eating room had doubled from the night time earlier than and the patio outdoors was buzzing with individuals throughout. That was the night time that I met Lauradonna, Vincenzo, Erasmus, and so many others. I liked that dinner not solely as a result of it was simply pretty much as good because the final, however due to the individuals who I used to be capable of eat with. Dialog on my facet of the desk was restricted due to the distinction in language, however many smiles have been shared, and I liked each second of it.
Sharing Our Tales
Throughout day two at Al di là dei Sogni I planted onions and beans with a person named Daniele. Daniele is from Columbia initially and his first language is Spanish. I do know some Spanish so that’s how we communicated whereas we dug holes and positioned seeds. Whereas we labored, he informed me about his life, his household, and the way he ended up in Italy. Daniele’s story is one I can’t neglect. The enjoyment he displayed in his work was inspiring and his steering was considerate.
My day with Anna within the manufacturing unit. Anna and I didn’t converse the identical language, so she spent quite a lot of the morning demonstrating find out how to do issues correctly. I felt proud and inspired as the entire manufacturing unit celebrated as I caught on.
Throughout this time, the highschool group that was visiting for the day studying concerning the mafia got here to affix us within the area. They helped us plant and I bought to talk with one of many women who informed me this was their final cease on a tour of seized mafia lands. Seeing them studying jogged my memory of all of the issues that I’ve realized this semester and all of the issues that I used to be nonetheless studying as I dropped seeds into the bottom that day.
It additionally struck me that these college students didn’t know Daniele’s story the best way that I did. They have been there to be taught concerning the mafia whereas my objectives associated extra towards enterprise and group. Working and actively taking part at Al di là dei Sogni gave me a brand new perspective of what a enterprise mannequin can appear to be and has impressed me to behave in my very own communities after I get residence.
In forty-eight hours, I made jam, rode into city for errands and gelato, planted onions and beans, and made buddies whose tales and smiles are nonetheless on the forefront of my thoughts. In forty-eight hours, I witnessed a dream go method past a enterprise that had completely nothing to do with promoting. In forty-eight hours, I realized what it means to have braveness, and what it seems prefer to humble your self and dream with the braveness to not be distinctive.
A wall painted alongside a walkway at Al di là dei Sogni.
