Problem statement: 

In 2018, Rome was hosting the highest number of immigrants in Italy: more than 10% of the total in the country (IDOS - Study and Research Centre/Statistical Dossier on Immigration). This includes second-generation immigrants as well as asylum-seekers and recently arrived migrants. The global migration crisis is highly visible across Rome, putting social inclusion at the top of the Rome Hub’s agenda.

To tackle the question of cultural segregation, employability and diversity, the Global Shapers Rome Hub partnered with Fondo Ambiente Italiano-FAI- (the Italian National Trust), to launch a training course for cultural and artistic mediators with a focus on the artistic heritage of Rome. 

 

Target group:

First and second-generation migrants in Rome.

 

Proposed solution:

First and second-generation migrants in Rome have a great untapped potential to become intercultural narrators that can help bridging cultures and bring people closer together. The aim of the project was to promote the integration and interaction of people from diverse cultures through art, while providing participants with professional training on how to deliver guided tours. 

 

Activities:

The pilot of this project took place between February and March 2019, targeting first and second generation of immigrants as well as Italians. 30 candidates were selected based on their knowledge of Italian as well as their engagement within their local community in Rome.

The course was composed of 6 classroom lectures, hosted by the Rome Museum of Contemporary Art (MACRO), and 5 field visits across Rome, held by professional tour guides. The lectures were composed of:

(1) A theoretical part delivered by a history of art professor from the University of Florence;

(2) An interactive component to promote exchanges amongst the participants, managed by the Global Shapers.

A second edition of the course started in January 2020 but was soon halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course restarted in September 2020. The location of this second edition is the Museum of Civilizations.

 

Short term goals/Results:

The participants to the Bridging Cultures course soon became a very cohesive and friendly group. The intensiveness of the course – two weekly meetings for six weeks – brought people together and really bridged cultures, also among the participants themselves. The participants took part to the FAI Giornate di Primavera as tourist guides. For some of them this was the first time they interacted with the public, and for plenty of them this was the first time they had to perform a serious task in Italian. Consequently, they learned new skills and improved their self-esteem.

 

Long-term change: 

Some participants of the first edition of the course became permanently involved in activities by FAI and Global Shapers.

Especially for the second edition, participants were selected also because of their relationship with the communities from their countries of origin. The thought behind this was that participants could become an entry point to FAI and Roman art and culture for entire communities with a migrant origin.

 

Avaiable metrics:

• 
  

  30 people took part to the first edition of the project. Another 30 people took part to the second edition;

  
  


• 
  

  7 Shapers participate to the project.

  
  


• 
  

  The first edition was composed of 6 classroom lectures and 5 field visits around Rome;

  
  


• 
  

  The second edition was composed of 8 classroom lectures and 7 field visits.

  
  

 

Collaborators:

FAI Giovani Delegazione di Roma

Amici del FAI

Rome Museum of Contemporary Art (MACRO)

Rome Museum of Civilizations