Pantelleria’s social workshop welcomes people, revives crafts
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On the Italian island of Pantelleria, Sarina Alba Marino founded a social workshop in 2021 to combine traditional crafts with support for people in need.
Marino, previously president of the Dai un sorriso Odv association, began the project with funding from Fondazione con il Sud and a group of volunteers. The workshop, located on a key route for migrants across the Mediterranean Sea, offers creative workshops and sewing services.
The space serves as a meeting point for diverse people, tourists, immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, and locals, providing a place for conversation and support. Volunteers and workshop participants create and sell handmade items like bags and baskets to fund the workshop’s expenses, including rent and supplies. The workshop also hosts programs for children, provides integration support for immigrant women, and offers opportunities for people completing community service to learn skills.
Participants learn techniques like sewing, weaving, and painting, and collaborate with street artists to improve public spaces. While the workshop relies on its own income and volunteers, Marino also collaborates with local schools to teach traditional crafts to students and hosts fundraising events.
