As part of the FAMI project, the itinerant Italian language course organized by Work Is Progress in Soleterre made a stop at the Scala Ansaldo Workshops in Milan. This was an experience we had already offered with great success as part of another project, and we chose to repeat it to enrich the social visits of the FAMI project with a more cultural dimension and an opportunity to explore the city.
We were welcomed by a passionate guide who, from the very beginning, brought the history of these workshops to life: their origins, their connection to the theater La Scala, and the evolution of a place where exceptional craftsmanship is still alive and central. A narrative that immediately captured the participants’ attention, sparking curiosity and questions even before we entered the workshops.
The tour took us through the various sections of the Benois Pavilion—from set painting to carpentry, from stage mechanics to the costume workshop—each surprising in its own way. The costume section proved to be the most engaging part: participants were able to touch the fabrics, observe highly precise tailoring techniques, and discover how recycled materials are repurposed to embellish and enrich the stage costumes. This detail impressed everyone, thanks to the creativity and commitment to sustainability it embodies.
For one of the participants, who worked as a seamstress in her home country, the workshop was a special experience: rediscovering familiar techniques and materials in such a prestigious setting rekindled a tangible sense of competence—and perhaps something more.
Widespread curiosity, active participation, and spontaneous exchanges among the participants and with the guide: once again, the visit confirmed just how much these moments go far beyond the cultural dimension. Bringing people closer to the city’s cultural spaces and services means bridging symbolic gaps, practicing Italian in real and stimulating contexts, and strengthening that sense of belonging to the local community—a fundamental part of any path toward inclusion.
