We’re here. After months of walking parallel paths, meeting, exchanging messages, holding meetings and sharing dreams, the time has come to finally gather all together.
On 15 and 16 November we met in Siena for the first national assembly of the associations and people who are part of Oltremani Italia.
We imagined it as a moment of sharing and joy and, for this reason – and to remind ourselves of the spirit with which we created our association – we decided to give it a new name: Oltrefesta.
An opportunity to celebrate what we have built so far, and at the same time to imagine what we want to become.
Because Oltremani is not just a name: it is a living community, made of people, relationships and shared dreams.
They were two intense days, where everything we are came together: stories, practices, doubts, enthusiasm, dreams – and a generous amount of Genoese focaccia, almond pastries and olivette di Sant’Agata.
It was not just another meeting: it was a snapshot of an Italy made of people who, each in their own way, build real relationships every day. From north to south, our local groups are walking alongside people on their way towards home, autonomy and community. And, above all, they are showing that active kindness is not a utopia, but an everyday practice.
In Genoa, people talk about “salamoia”, that precious time when you get to know each other before diving into the life of the group.
In Ragusa, the work is to make sure autonomy is not just a slogan but a concrete goal – like getting a driving licence.
Catania already has one thing clear: no barriers, we walk together.
From Ascoli come stories that show how relationships transform people in both directions.
In Pesaro, networks with institutions are being woven and services are born that speak of everyday care.
In Naples, a new path begins with courage, in a complex context, with the idea of opening both homes and mindsets.
Varese is preparing for a complicated future on the migration front and chooses to be there, with clarity and responsibility.
Siena and Chiusi hold together local area, networks and fragilities, with the awareness that communicating and sharing is what makes it possible not to leave anyone behind.
And then Alessandria, Venice, Turin – each with its own energy and one shared message: let’s bring together skills, visions and hands.
During the plenary we put into words what unites us: the struggle against indifference, the concreteness of actions, the care of relationships, the need for social justice, the responsibility of truly showing up. We talked about how to make a difference in our local areas, how to tell our story better, how to build a national network that really works, without useless bureaucracy.
The message is clear: OLTREMANI ITALIA now exists, and it will grow.
The first Oltrefesta is our common home.
And from here, we want to start, and keep moving, together.
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