Who we are
Rampa Prenestina is a Cultural Association for Social Promotion, established in 2013, which has created a social workshop composed of artists, art educators, and therapists. Alongside production in various artistic disciplines, we organize activities in the field of non-formal education, based on the fusion of artistic languages and socio-educational programs aimed at minors and young adults from disadvantaged social backgrounds. We promote the knowledge of music and other forms of art (theater, circus, dance, visual arts, crafts) through playful-educational activities as a method of inclusive pedagogy. The workshop is inspired by the concepts of Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, his work with the youth of Brazilian favelas, and the method of José Abreu, creator of the youth orchestras in Venezuela.
Cultural Association since 2013
We are a small organization that strongly believes in local (Glocal) action, and for years we have been actively and consistently engaged in the eastern outskirts of Rome.
Our main objective is to combat educational poverty, focusing on the fight against social discrimination. We offer young people—both from the Romani communities and others who face social difficulties—opportunities to improve their education and skills, guided by professional artists and artisans in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Through artistic activities and crafts related to the world of art, we provide them with potential tools for future employment (puppet theater, storytelling, set design, music, instrument repair, restoration and tuning, creation of handmade items, creative reuse/recycling).
The theoretical foundation of our project on Romani communities is based on revisiting Romani traditions from a contemporary perspective, aiming to surpass the outdated mono-ethnic view that has long surrounded the Romani people. Our goal is to combat marginalization by encouraging greater participation in life outside the “camp,” not limited to school attendance, but also fostering knowledge and active involvement in the social and cultural life of their neighborhood and city.
From a practical standpoint, one of our central goals is to guide young people—otherwise at risk of becoming involved in petty crime—towards self-sufficiency and self-determination. We do this by helping them develop self-awareness, learn good practices, and acquire independent trades. We introduce them to the beauty of art and the wisdom of craftsmanship, providing them with tools to increase their awareness of their potential as active citizens, while enhancing their understanding of society to become conscious creators of their own future.
Between 2016 and 2019, the association managed the Rampa Prenestina Cultural Space, adjacent to the building from which it took its name, in collaboration with the Di Vittorio-Lattanzio Institute. We launched a multifaceted artistic and pedagogical project for children and young people, which developed in various directions:
- Educational programs for preschools, primary, and secondary schools in the area through art therapy workshops, extracurricular activities, and school-to-work transition programs.
- Integration of Roma and second-generation immigrants: music school, art and craft workshops, short training courses for job placement, and educational interventions to combat marginalization.
- Artistic creations, event organization both on-site and in the local area, and collaboration in the social and cultural life of the neighborhood through theatrical performances, music concerts, street art, and visual arts exhibitions.
Unfortunately, the Cultural Space is now closed and has been returned to the school that hosted us. While we await a new space, our activities continue in a reduced capacity, also due to the current pandemic situation.
Our work within the Erasmus+ Educational Program, in collaboration with partner organizations from Hungary, Romania, Spain, Scotland, and Ireland, is of particular importance. The first European project of A.P.S. Rampa Prenestina, ‘(Roma) Heroes in Theater Education and Everyday Life’, has initiated an international collaboration, opening new horizons for us and our young people.