Conference Program

In a time of social division and urban isolation, the idea of "living spaces in democracy" stands out as a crucial way to build strong local communities. These spaces are more than just physical places; they represent democratic practices where people come together for common goals and take part in activities that promote the well-being of everyone. At the core of this concept are Educational Community Pacts, innovative initiatives from Italy based on participatory governance. Established through frameworks like Italy's national guidelines on community pacts (MIUR, 2019), these pacts are official agreements among citizens, schools, families, local administrations, and third-sector organizations to create cooperative spaces focused on caring for and improving shared resources. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Educational Pact has become a popular tool for school planning. In 2021, the Ministry of Education encouraged its use through the School Plan 2020-21 to fight educational poverty and boost cooperation between schools and local communities. This co-design tool allows schools to become educational hubs that coordinate local services, meeting children's needs more effectively. A good example of this is the V. Bottego school in Milan, which I studied in my research. Here, educators worked with local organizations to redesign the square in front of the school, which had been turned into a parking lot and had lost its original purpose. Among the different redevelopment projects, students helped plant and care for public green spaces. As part of the pact, they gained hands-on experience with an environmental protection group, focusing on maintaining public green areas and managing waste. The impact on the students was significant; after completing the workshops, some children even advised their parents to adopt more eco-friendly habits. In the end, living spaces in democracy, realized through Educational Community Pacts, provide a model for building local communities that are inclusive, fair, and forward-thinking. They redefine democracy not just as elections but as daily acts of collaboration, where shared goals drive joint efforts to care for common resources. By integrating education with civic engagement, these spaces develop informed citizens who can support lively, inclusive communities in the face of global challenges. This approach is relevant worldwide and encourages adaptations in different settings to strengthen democracy from the ground up.