Italy

Emmaus in Italy

Emmaus has had a presence in Italy since 1962 and the movement now has 16 member groups in the country. The number of groups is on the rise in the country, as is the number of sales areas. All the Italian groups are structured as “classic” Emmaus communities and they regularly speak out on important social matters, notably on issues relating to migration. The groups in the country benefit from the support of the national organisation, Emmaus Italy.

Origins

In late 1960 a group of young Catholics who refused traditional charity-giving, decided to live with poor people who were subsisting on their salvaging work. In December 1962, one of them, Vincenzo Benciolini, came back from France where he had spent several months living with various Emmaus communities. He then set up a rag-pickers community in Verona. In 1967 24 towns in the north of Italy hosted Emmaus International work camps, contributing towards the development of Emmaus in Italy.

Main Activities

• Welcome, providing accommodation, reintegration
• Collecting, reusing, recycling and selling on objects
• Political campaigning and awareness raising
• Local, european and international solidarity initiatives

Secondary Activities

• Home collection service
• Fixing objects, upcycling
• Training about important social matters (migration, the mafia, human trafficking, etc.)