Rebuilding Utopia
Description: La Città dell'Utopia, a project by SCI Italy in Rome’s San Paolo district, is a social laboratory for active citizenship and local development. Located on a small hill, its 400-year-old building fosters local citizenship, associations, and international volunteers. The project hosts seminars, workshops, festivals, and events to connect the local community with international participants.
For 20 years, volunteers and workcamps have maintained and renewed the space. Due to its age, constant renovation is needed. This Workcamp focuses on restoring and improving the site while fostering learning and community bonds.
More information can be found at www.lacittadellutopia.org
Type of Work: Restoration activities at La Città dell'Utopia focus on revitalizing its historic building and outdoor spaces. Volunteers will paint and repair furniture in the kitchen, repaint the office, clear out the cave, and improve the garden and common areas. Additional tasks include maintaining shared spaces and making the environment more functional and inviting. This collective effort will ensure that this place remains vibrant and welcoming for the community.
Study Theme: The study part of the camp explores heritage, sustainability, antifascism, and social engagement. Volunteers learn about heritage preservation, sustainable lifestyles, and antifascist values through discussions about the importance of caring for local citizensm, human rights, and social justice. The project strengthens community ties, encouraging grassroots participation and collective responsibility to create a more inclusive and sustainable society.
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in mixed rooms for up to 7 people. Beds, mattresses and pillows are provided. Sheets, pillowcases, towels will not be. Shared bathroom on the floor with three showers, toilet, and sinks with hot water. Internet access 24/7. Kitchen and meals are shared. Volunteers are responsible for cooking and cleaning.
Children policy: Maximun of 2 children between the age of 10 and 18. The families and the children will be accomodated also in the common rooms.
Requirements: The work will be manual and sometimes heavy. Temperatures will be high, so the work schedule will be organised to take advantage of the hours with lower temperatures, e.g. from 8:30am to 11am, and from 5pm to 7:45pm (aprox)
Meals provided during the workcamp will be Vegetarian/Vegan, adapting, if necessary, to intolerance/allergy problems.
Approximate Location: Via Valeriano 3/F – La Città dell’Utopia, close to metro stop Basilica S. Paolo, in Rome.
Arrival at Airport Roma Fiumicino (FCO) is recommended and better connected to main train/metro stations
-Roma Termini -Roma Ostiense -Roma Trastevere
Notes: It is essential to respect certain rules necessary to protect the well-being of all the people who pass through it:
- respect the hours of silence: from 1pm to 4pm and from 10pm onwards;
- leave all the spaces you use clean and tidy;
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respect all individualities;
No form of racism, fascism, sexism, LGBTQIAphobia, physical or verbal violence is tolerated.
Please kindly note that there is an additional incoming fee of 50€ for all volunteers applying through Partner organisations or Contacts of the SCI network. Check the status here: https://bit.ly/3vhBD5J. This fee covers hosting costs, insurance, a small travel fund to enable disadvantaged volunteers to join projects and administration costs.
Camp Photographs
