A guided tour led by those who frequent the Progetto Itaca space in Palermo, at Villa Adriana.

Beyond how wonderful it was to be welcomed by the volunteers and, especially, by the members of Progetto Itaca, it was equally important for us to gain a deeper understanding of how they became such a significant and well-structured organization. We got to see up close the methodologies, practices, and activities that have been developed over the years to make Progetto Itaca what it is today in Palermo. For those who may not know, Progetto Itaca Palermo is a volunteer association (ODV) that works in the field of mental health. At Villa Adriana, in the San Lorenzo neighborhood, a club for people with mental disabilities has been active for years, where the volunteer staff carries out daily work on mental health recovery, job reintegration, and much more.

Progetto Itaca Palermo also runs numerous visibility campaigns to raise awareness about mental health among other networks, schools, educational centers, and so on. Their motto is just as inspiring: “For the mind, with the heart!” If you’d like to visit them (as we did), you can reach out via their Facebook page or their website.