Noi costruiamo comunità

L’unione solidale tra persone differenti è considerata come un bene comune che si trasforma in visione del mondo e in un modo per generare modelli educativi trasversali che guardano all’essere umano come a un valore centrale per costruire forme di cittadinanza attiva e consapevole. Non sorprende che lo stesso ambiente che ha generato l’esperienza pedagogica di Loris Malaguzzi e di Reggio Children abbia anche un sistema universitario avanzato e una pratica diffusa di formazione all’interno delle aziende più illuminate.
Sarebbe errato considerare questo fenomeno come eterno e immutabile. La forza delle comunità reggiane è tale perché generata dal continuo dialogo con il territorio e tra le persone. E il confronto tra il “noi” e l’individuo non deve smettere mai di rinnovarsi, guardando al mondo che cambia come a una risorsa potenziale per costruire domani.

In the 60s Reggio Emilia was known as the ‘province of cooperatives’. In all fields, the conception of a new economic enterprise starts with the idea of creating it together, sharing objectives, risks and benefits. Community is one of the most important and long-lasting features of many civilisations forged around a profound link to the land. In Reggio Emilia, cooperatives, consortiums, clubs and associations which embrace the local economy in all its forms, including art, music, theatre, aid, religion, politics and cuisine, represent a continuous re-invention of society and its changes, in an attempt to achieve a fine balance between the individual and community. The supportive union forged by different people is considered a common good, which transforms into a vision of the world and stimulates the development of transversal educational models where individuals are central to the construction of active and aware citizenship. It comes as no surprise that this environment has generated important pedagogical experiences such as Loris Malaguzzi and Reggio Children, as well as an advanced university system and a widespread practice of in-house training among the most enlightened local companies. It would be a mistake to consider this phenomenon as eternal or set in stone. The strength of communities in the Reggio Emilia Province stems from their continuous dialogue with the local area and its inhabitants. In this sense discussion between ‘we’ and the individual must never lose momentum and should continue to view the changing world as a potential resource for the construction of the future.