ACLI: "We stand with the bishops on inland areas."

Revise the 2021-2027 National Strategic Plan for Internal Areas , overcoming a mindset of resignation to decline and promoting courageous policies and stable funding. Enhance the role of young people, leading experiences of "residence" and custodians of innovative communities. Focus on integrated medium- and long-term public policies that guarantee adequate social and healthcare services, digital transition, and environmental protection. Recognize the Third Sector and the community for their capacity to generate social activism and new solidarity economies. Train professionals capable of supporting community processes, strengthening active citizenship and participation.

These are the demands of the national ACLI (Italian Catholic Action Group) to the Government regarding inland areas. The association once again criticizes the government's unstoppable decline in inland areas, and does so in the wake of the release of an open letter to the Government and Parliament by the 135 bishops of inland areas ( Gabriella Giorgione wrote about it here) . This document, the ACLI emphasize, "offers the country a vision capable of indicating more just, inclusive, and sustainable development paths, countering the economic, social, and territorial inequalities that characterize our times."

Emiliano Manfredonia , national president of ACLI, states that "inner areas are not marginal, but the heart of Italy's future. We cannot accept that entire territories are being slowly degraded. Participation, mutuality, and active citizenship are the true lever for reviving democracy and social cohesion, in large cities as well as in the most vulnerable villages."

The tale of the irreversible decline of internal areas

ACLI, after all, knows the challenges of these territories firsthand: their clubs, services, training centers, youth groups, and volunteers represent community outposts spread throughout Italy. "Promoting social relationships, connections, and places of protection," Manfredonia continues, "means restoring a voice and dignity to those who feel excluded from decision-making processes. Only in this way can we rebuild trust and foster the common good."

Raffaella Dispenza , ACLI national vice president with responsibility for territorial inclusion, adds that "ACLI has long placed inland areas at the center of its research and social actions. Through networks like Riabitare l'Italia, we are engaging our provincial leaders to expand concrete experiences of active citizenship. The next national study meeting, scheduled in Florence from September 25th to 27th, will be dedicated to the theme "Democracy in your hands, the power of being there : an invitation to relaunch a participatory and vibrant democracy."

What's needed are "interventions that aren't episodic or fragmented," Dispenza concludes. "We need far-sighted strategies: access to services, community housing, participatory environmental projects, support for social and cultural enterprises, education and professional training. Only in this way can inland areas become true laboratories of social and economic innovation, benefiting the entire country."

Opening photo by Stefano Intintoli on Unsplash

Tags:
• internal areas
• Government
• Politics