Yesterday, Tuesday 15 April 2025 at 6 p.m. at SPAZIO LINK in Via Benedetti 26/B, the launch event for the “Linea Rossa” project was held. With the desire to transform the Borgo Roma neighbourhood into a dynamic and inclusive youth hub, the project “La linea rossa: percorsi urbani tra la fabbrica della conoscenza e la fabbrica della creatività” (The Red Line: urban paths between the factory of knowledge and the factory of creativity) was born. The initiative aims to strengthen the bond between the university community, the neighbourhood and its citizens, focusing on young people and their active role in social and urban transformation. The project is led by the Cocai association, which develops and co-produces cultural initiatives aimed at promoting a shared, innovative and sustainable vision of the city. Partners include the Department of Human Sciences of the University of Verona, Energie Sociali, a social cooperative committed to promoting the integral quality of life of people, and the Municipality of Verona. La linea rossa is supported by the Cariverona Foundation.

A clear objective: involvement

La Linea Rossa aims to map students’ desires, needs and difficulties in order to create, together with the community and local associations, targeted interventions to make Borgo Roma a more youth-friendly place. Actively involving organisations already operating in the neighbourhood, including associations, meeting places and youth organisations, will be essential to ensure that the project responds to the real needs of the population. The project is a natural continuation of the experience gained over the two years of La Fabbrica del Quartiere, during which, together with the Cocai association and the Energie Sociali cooperative, work has already been carried out in Borgo Roma with the aim of strengthening the relationship between the community and the urban area, starting with the people who live there.

Organisations already operating in the neighbourhood were actively involved in the event, including associations, community centres and youth organisations. In particular, in the weeks leading up to the event, students at the Polo Scientifico were directly targeted through classroom presentations and leafleting.

The meeting, which opened with a networking aperitif, provided an opportunity to explore the details of the project, engage with the promoters and share ideas and visions for the future of Borgo Roma, starting by listening to the perceptions, desires, needs and difficulties of the students, who proved to be very engaged and interested.

We would like to thank @cocai @energiesociali @instaunivr for their ideas and participation and @fondazionecariverona for their support.