Giardino delle Arance, a confiscated property returned to the community

CODE: IG25-W008       

Local Partners

The social cooperatives I Locandieri were born from the idea of cooperation between individuals and institutions, with the mission of generating social and economic value for the benefit of as many people as possible. They offer services to people, especially migrants, and since 2008 they have been welcoming migrants in two communities, including minors and families.

One of their missions is to give new life to the confiscated property. Over the years they have given back to the community places confiscated from crime, transforming them into communities for migrants and sports facilities for children, young people and migrants living in Castelvetrano.

Il Giardino delle Arance is another confiscated property that has been returned to the community: a small building from the late 18th century with three hectares of land that has been renovated to become a home for minors; a cottage that will become a space-lab for the processing of home-grown agri-food products and a shop to sell the garden's produce. Outside, there are 2 hectares of citrus groves and 1 hectare of land where an intensive organic vegetable garden has been created to implement an ambitious socio-economic project.

Work
Volunteers will support the members of the cooperative in the maintenance of the organic vegetable garden, in particular in the cultivation, sowing and harvesting, in the renovation of the dry stone walls that surround the area, and in the setting up of the fruit and vegetable shop. The work is mainly manual and is only organised in the mornings due to the high temperatures (between 7:00 - 12:00). Afternoons are free and volunteers can explore the surrounding area or take public transport to the beach. Depending on the interest of the volunteers, it is possible to organise workshops to decorate the interior of the house. At the end of the workcamp, there could be a cooking workshop with the volunteers of the cooperative and the young migrants hosted by the cooperative.

Study part: Members of the cooperative will share their stories and experiences of managing property confiscated from organised crime and their knowledge of organic farming.

Accommodation and food

A small building from the end of the 18th century renovated as a cosy house with three hectares of land outside. The house has 4 bedrooms (2 triple and 2 double) with wardrobes, a rustic kitchen, 3 small bathrooms with shower, and a living room. Volunteers will have to share bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas. There is plenty of space outside to enjoy the summer weather. Volunteers will be responsible for cooking, cleaning and keeping the area clean and safe.

Location and leisure

Location: Castelvetrano (TP), Sicily, Italy. Castelvetrano is a town in Sicily, in the province of Trapani. It is known for its rich history, including its proximity to the archaeological site of Selinunte, one of the largest ancient Greek cities in Sicily. The town is famous for the production of high quality olive oil and the historical centre is rich in monuments. A pine forest is 4 km from the accommodation, while the historical centre is 1 km away.

Requirements

Volunteers should have an interest in agriculture, be willing to work very early in the morning and have a good level of autonomy to enjoy their free time.

Meeting Point
Piazza Matteotti, Castelvetrano last stop (Salemi bus)