Voci dalla Calabria. Storie di vita e di emigrazione in Africa e altri mondi, dal 1950 al 1960 – Voices from Calabria. Stories of life and emigration to Africa and other worlds, during 1950-1960
Francesca Mazzei - francescamazzei111@gmail.com
During the academic year 2013-2014 students in 2nd and 3rd year of Serrastretta High School, took part in an educational project called Voci dalla Calabria. Storie di vita e di emigrazione in Africa e altri mondi, dal 1950 al 1960. They studied the story of emigration in depth, from Italy, and more specifically from Calabria and Serrastretta, paying a particular attention to each migrant’s story. They also considered correlated issues, such as the phenomenon of immigration and an in-depth study of Zimbabwean and Zambian history. Moreover, the students carried out various tasks, such as book and archive research, qualitative interviews (even with their own relatives), analysis and transcription. During this process, a continuous exchange of information was set up with various institutions and individuals, both within the school and outside of it. In this way, students were encouraged to cultivate their capacity of understanding other people, and thereby to avoid discriminatory or hostile attitudes towards migrants. Other positive results were a book entitled Voci della Calabria, a video called Storie di emigrazione tra immagini e testimonianze and the exhibition Tra memoria e racconto, which offered various pieces to the public on the 6th June 2014 in the presence of the mayors of Serrastretta and Decollatura, the director of the High School, the teachers and the author of this article. Keywords: Calabria, Serrastretta, Africa, emigration, immigration, education, Italian migrants' stories, the art of listening.
