Tiedoli, Italy: A mountain village comes back to life
In Switzerland, like anywhere in the Alps, there is lots of tourism but little „local life“, some of the mountain villages look abandoned and lonely between the seasons. Not so in northern Italy, in the village of Tiedoli. An almost abandoned stone-house village is now the home for elders, yes, very frail elders, but also the fertile field of human, animal and nature relationships, and now, of course, new jobs, tourism and small businesses. Read the full story here: http:/http://www.lecaseditiedoli.it/index.php?langsito=eng
Strem, Austria: A wine-growing village at the Austro-Hungarian border is growing
A similar story can be reported from Austria, the village of Strem has built a small nursing home and is now expanding it to an intergenerational village. The same here; new jobs, no away-migration, new housing for young families, more revenue. What cannot be quantified is how the souls of elders returning to the village enrich all generations. Read the CEO’s, Mr. Peter Kalmans presentation at the 2008 Iahsa Vienna conference here:
Both projects have been a long and continuing struggle, involved lots of courage and resilience, the initiators deserve public recognition and praise. Anybody aware of a suitable medal which can be pinned to their chests?
What else is there to say other than: be inspired and copy!
Christa Monkhouse
http://www.umbc.edu/blogs/changingaging/2008/11/
Monkhouse Monday link does not work. Above is another one.