Social Report 2023: Like a garden

Cultivating hope is a core principle for the Community Foundation: it characterises all of our actions. The social report is therefore for us a tool for reporting on the responsibilities, behaviours and social, environmental and economic results of our activities. Below you will find the "Letter to the Community" with which we present the sense of the work carried out over the past year, and at the end the complete Social Report for you to download and read.Like a gardenThis year we wanted to trace and describe our journey guided by a powerful and evocative image: that of the Pantesco garden. The Pantelleria garden is a walled structure typical of the island of Pantelleria: it is an ancient and ingenious structure that protects and nourishes life despite the difficulties. It consists of circular walls of lava stone and allows the creation of an ideal microclimate for the luxuriant growth of plants in an environment otherwise hostile to agriculture. Within these walls, citrus trees find shelter from the wind, receiving the moisture they need to thrive. And, despite this protection, the Pantelleria garden remains open for trade as it has no roof. For several years now, and particularly during 2023, our Community Foundation has operated as a true Pantelleria garden, helping to build walls of support, solidarity and civic engagement around our community. While remaining an open ecosystem. In this way we have on many occasions created a safe space where ideas, initiatives and dreams could germinate and grow. In an often complex and difficult context, we have worked tirelessly to cultivate potential and support the people and organisations we walk alongside step by step. This year, we have promoted social initiatives that have strengthened a sense of community and belonging; we have implemented educational projects that have given young people the opportunity to grow and develop their skills; we have supported social enterprise projects that have enhanced our heritage and given job opportunities to people who are now experiencing moments of fragility. Every programme, every project, every initiative, every small step forward has been possible thanks to the constant contribution of our partners, supporters and volunteers. Like the stones that make up the Pantelleria garden, each of you has been instrumental in building this infrastructure of hope and possibility. We look to the future with the same vision and concreteness that have guided us so far. We are aware that challenges will not be lacking, but we are equally certain that, together, we can continue to create the conditions for a sustainable and generative development of our community.