The Metropolitan City of Rome is home to a large foreign population, over half of them women, making it one of Italy's leading multicultural areas and an important centre for traditional craftsmanship, including goldsmithing.
Young women with a migrant background still run into real obstacles when trying to access qualified training, professional networks and job opportunities, leaving them at risk of social isolation and of skills that go underused. Responding to this with an established craft tradition, one the area is already known for, offers a concrete route towards empowerment and recognition of each woman's own talent.
The project
"INTRECCI" trains young migrant women in goldsmith art, using non-precious, non-toxic materials so the craft is fully accessible from day one. Practical training runs alongside the support of an intercultural facilitator and structured networking with local businesses and workshops, building technical skill, confidence and real professional connections at the same time.
The programme culminates in a finished jewellery collection, presented to the public at a final exhibition, documented in a digital catalogue and shared through a dedicated social media campaign. Throughout, the project centres on female empowerment, equal opportunities and intercultural dialogue, creating a model of inclusion and personal growth that participants can carry with them well beyond the programme itself.
Who the project is for
The project's direct beneficiaries are 5 young migrant women under 35, with an aptitude for fine manual work, who take part in the training pathway.
Its impact reaches further, to around 400 people who attend the final exhibition, 5 businesses and goldsmith workshops, local associations, and an online audience reached through the project's digital communication campaign.
Project name: INTRECCI – Gioielli che uniscono culture
Proposing organisation: Asterion ETS
Area of intervention: Inclusion & Social Development
Country: Italy