“No” to cut and paste social projects across Europe

 

“Replicating is the opposite of designing”. Roberto Cavaliere and Tiziana Cristiani, respectively Project Manager and Project Coordinator of MoSe, have made designing projects for civil society into a career. A career that, they are quick to highlight: “Looks to Europe as a source of inspiration and of new identities as a beginning rather than a territory to conquer by replicating projects that have already worked in Italy”.

Territory to conquer?

Roberto Cavaliere: In a way. The enlargement of Europe to the East of the European Union and the subsequent redirection of funds and financing to these new member states has resulted in a real migratory wave of project designers who end up proposing programmes and projects that have already been tried and tested in Old Europe. In my opinion this damages civil society, rather than strengthen it.

In what way?

Tiziana Cristiani: Working with non profit organisations in different countries we have come to realise that supporting local civil society means giving it space to express itself according to its specific identity. Replicating a Spanish project financed by Brussels in Romania is wrong, both for the project partners and for the project’s final beneficiaries.

It would seem that in terms of social project design it has all been done before: how not to replicate, even here in Italy?

Roberto Cavaliere: By being humble. Taking the time to listen to and get to know the local territory. Its problems and the solutions that emerge from the grassroots level.

Non profit organisations are always looking for best practices as a source of inspiration. Is this a mistake?

Tiziana Cristiani: No, it’s not. Comparisons are important in order to grow and to improve. But solutions have to emerge from the below, from the particular experiences of each locality. And you must never be afraid of trying something new.

What surprised you the most about the Mose project?

Tiziana Cristiani: How easy it was to network with so many different European organisations.

Roberto Cavaliere: The transversality of certain social problems – from the identity of the third sector to the need to build training paths and career opportunities for those who work in the sector. And the vitality with which these are sought.

Do you want to know more about the MoSe project? Follow these links:

 

• The MoSe project
• Jason Starks: Teaching cooperative enterprise at school