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Florence Urban Jungle
Start date: Oct 20, 2016, End date: May 19, 2017 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Territorial analysis of European cities emerges that the existence of sites in a state of neglect and decay are actually quite common across the continent. These sites are identified in industrial areas, residential areas, areas to be destined to urban green spaces, but also to the unfinished construction sites, including all those residual areas that are abandoned after being exploited.In the particular context of Florence, which will host the exchange, we are living a particular situation to which the historic city centre is now only use for the consumption of tourists, with the traditional meeting places for young people as a faculty / student residence not valued, squares always less accessible to citizens who are depopulating the city centre. On the outskirts where major faculties and university residences were moved most of the these are anonymous, depersonalized and do not act as aggregation element.Moreover, in a phase of European history where the economic crisis and social exclusion have in many countries marginalized part of the young population (migrant, poor, disadvantaged, women) the plans to reevaluate urban areas, green spaces, involvement of local youth in this process and in the creation of gathering places helps the social cohesion.Green areas can help bring people together, engaging individuals from different social groupings that may not normally interact. Green space offers possibilities: increasing social activity, improving community cohesion, developing local attachment and lowering crime levels, particularly in deprived communities (Bell et al., 2008; Weldon et al., 2007). Certain groups in society are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion: people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, young people, older people and those at an economic disadvantage; for these groups, the potential that green space has for enhancing social cohesion is especially pertinent.The project aims to promote social cohesion and commitment to active citizenship of young people and the recovery in a positive form of the spaces through simple actions replicable in their own contexts for the construction and care of outdoor spaces for socializing and gathering using prominently with urban green. We want to establish an exchange of one week in Florence, involving 21 young people from different cultures (Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Latvia). An aged from 18-30 years. During the exchange participants will develop and realize with groups of students, managers of community gardens, Florentine student collectives some interventions in unused or degraded areas in university and urban contexts. We will also involve other organizations such as centres for refugees and migrants, educational centres, NGOs just to emphasize the inclusive effect of the creation of spaces for social cohesion by those that lives the city every day, and how this activity can be a bridge between people allowing them to know one each other.In a preparatory visit group leaders accompanied by one member of the participants, will be in Florence two months before the exchange to identify with the coordinating body spaces in which to intervene and prepare intervention proposals to be selected during the exchange by the whole group, It will, be also the occasion to know the organizations that will collaborate on the project and to go in depth in every activity of the exchange.The project will achieve three main objectives:- Encourage young people to active participation in public life with the making rather than passive policy. We want to promote a way of life for which an analysis of a problem does not stop you, but allow you to think possible solutions and get organized for a real change.- Promoting multiculturalism and social inclusion. We want to stimulate a broader view for which cultural and religious differences are an enrichment and not an obstacle. Also that these differences are overcome if we work together for the common good.-Promoting outdoor lifestyles and social gathering as a positive role model replicable in local contexts.For the local context Florence is a city that has always been open to the outside world, in recent years, however, mass tourism has increasingly moved away locals from the old town and the citizens has increased a feeling of intolerance towards foreigners also for the effect of migrant and terrorism crisis. The aim is therefore also to propose a new relationship between Florence and the flow of thousands of foreigners who pass through here, not a disposable consumption of the city, but a real understanding and exchange between Florentines and foreigners into a deeper relationship of reciprocity.

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