Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Milan, June 19 2019 – From today until September 9th you can present your project to access the “School of Neighborhoods”, the program wanted by the Municipality of Milan to help citizens transform their ideas into new projects, social enterprises or services useful to the community and to the life of the neighborhoods. The contents of the initiative and the methods of participation in the tender were presented to citizens this afternoon by the councilor for Labor Policies, Productive Activities and Commerce Cristina Tajani in the unusual location of the covered municipal market in Piazza Ferrara, back in the center of the community life of the neighborhood.

“The purpose of the Neighborhood School – explains councilor Tajani – is to help people create projects and services that are useful to the community, different from those already existing, and that are capable of supporting themselves autonomously, that is, not only by resorting to public funding. A project that is aimed exclusively at informal groups of citizens who want to commit themselves to improving the quality of life in these areas of the city. An initiative that renews a typical distinctive trait of Milanese industriousness, regardless of social origin and which, through work and participation in civil and social life, allows one to feel fully citizens".

The "School of Neighborhoods" is not a physical space but a training course and multidisciplinary activities to transmit knowledge and practical tools expressly aimed at citizens, including those of the European Union or foreigners with a regular residence permit, who want to transform their ideas and desires in concrete, long-lasting and sustainable projects. There are no age or educational qualification limits to access the school, all you need is the desire to get involved and give birth to something new with the right idea. The projects may range from services for people and neighbourhoods, commercial and artisanal social enterprises, mutual aid projects, spaces for social aggregation, artistic and cultural promotion activities, reuse, recycling, environmental protection up to sport and well-being, training and education and more.

To apply you must be a group of at least two people. The school is also open to associations and organizations which, although unable to respond directly to the call, will be able to help new projects to be born and grow over time. 

There are two phases of participation in the "School of Neighborhoods". In the first you must submit your idea by September 9th and pass a selection process. The groups that have proposed the 20 best ideas will be able to access a totally free ten-week advanced training course to move from theory to practice and learn everything needed to transform an idea into a real project. The course will take place non-continuously to meet the needs of those who study or work. 

The second phase, at the end of ten weeks, provides for a non-repayable "project grant" of up to a maximum of 25 thousand euros aimed at financing the first year of the activity and a support and tutoring service aimed at accompanying the project in all phases. phases, from initiation to reporting. 

The "Neighborhood School", co-financed by the European Union thanks to the PON Metro Metropolitan City Operational Programme, after a start-up phase in the neighborhoods of Lorenteggio, Giambellino, Corvetto and Rogoredo, will extend over the next two years to other areas of the city.

All the information to access the services and activities of the "Neighborhood School" is available on the portal of the Municipality of Milan and on the dedicated website https://www.lascuoladeiquartieri.it.