Opera Padre Marella – Pronto Soccorso Sociale

Opera Padre Marella, founded by Olinto Marella, supports vulnerable people in Bologna, particularly migrants and the homeless, by providing shelter, meals, and pathways to self-sufficiency. Often described as a “social emergency room,” it offers 60–70 beds and encourages residents to participate in group activities, work, and savings programs while transitioning toward independent living. The organization also operates a donation center supported by the local community.

Oltre Associazione Aps

Oltre APS is a Bologna-based cultural association, founded in 1997, that brings together professionals, volunteers, Italians, and foreigners in the socio-cultural, educational, and artistic fields. For over 20 years, it has promoted creativity, art, and culture as tools for social engagement, training, and community participation, fostering initiatives that involve citizens directly in the creative process.

Camere d’Aria, managed by Oltre APS since 2014, is a multifunctional cultural space that encourages co-creation and informal artistic practices, transforming spaces into places of connection and belonging.

Oficina

Oficina is a non-profit social enterprise that promotes the professional, social, and personal growth of people, especially those facing barriers to education or employment. It offers courses, hands-on training, and internships, while supporting local companies with workforce development. Headquartered at Villaggio del Fanciullo, Oficina is inspired by ACLI – Christian Association of Italian Workers - values and is part of the ENAIP (National ACLI Body for Vocational Education) Emilia-Romagna Network, leveraging strong local, national, and international partnerships.

Arci Bologna Associazione APS

Arci Bologna is a prominent cultural and social organization in Bologna, representing a network of 136 member associations and over 75,000 members. It promotes recreational, educational, and cultural activities for children, adolescents, and the wider community, including workshops, after-school programs, music, theater, festivals, and initiatives that foster legality and combat organized crime and gambling addiction.

Spazio Zeta, managed by Arci, is a dynamic cultural and community space in Villa Torchi park that serves adolescents and young people—especially those from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds—offering cultural, sports, and after-school activities, while hosting organizations working in areas like disability, music, and neighborhood engagement.

Aquaponic Design Srl

In collaboration with Kilowatt/Serre dei Giardini Margherita.

An innovative startup and a University of Bologna spinoff

Design and build soilless farming systems by providing tailored counseling for agricultural companies, private individuals, public administration, and schools. Goal is to foster the emergence of hyperlocal businesses, construct community awareness, and create a network of interdisciplinary and fruitful relations.

Committed to spreading knowledge of this field by experimenting and educating a big community online and offline throughout the Italian territory.

Thanks to the innovation patent it holds, it is the only one in Italy producing and selling a modular element for the realization of vertical farming systems. It is made of passionate group of people who combined their multidisciplinary skills (aquaculture, agriculture, engineering, marketing) to allow anybody to develop their project.

It is now strongly collaborating with Serre dei Giardini Margherita and Kilowatt. Le Serre dei Giardini is a regenerated space and a hybrid cultural center located within Giardini Margherita, in Bologna. The project takes shape within the 650 square meters of refurbished former municipal greenhouses, transformed into a place dedicated to culture, experimentation, and social innovation. The regeneration of the space was made possible by Kilowatt, a workers’ cooperative that was granted a 15-year concession by the Municipality of Bologna to manage the site. Kilowatt brings together a wide range of skills and operates in the fields of social innovation, culture and the arts, communication, urban regeneration, education, and food systems. Within the regenerated spaces of Le Serre dei Giardini, the project stands as a place of culture and experimentation with new models, intertwining artistic, social, and environmental practices.

Re-use with Love

Re-Use with Love is a nonprofit organization that is primarily run by 50 women who volunteer in their free time. Re-Use sets up a market open to the public where they sell clothes, jewelry, sports equipment, books, toys, and much more. The mercatino takes place twice a year, once in October and once in April. The items sold at the market are used articles that have been donated throughout the year by the local population. The profits from the market (60,000$ last year alone!) go directly back into the community. Re-Use is also open twice a month in order to help marginalized families. Here families can pick up items they need in a friendly, shop-like experience. The idea of the Re-use boutique is to provide a friendly, pleasant environment that breaks down power dynamics of help and assistance by promoting dignity and empowerment.

Piazza Grande

Piazza Grande, is an NGO that emphasizes the development of community and assists marginalized members of society - particularly those experiencing homelessness - so that they may reintegrate themselves and be successful. Rather than focusing directly on helping people get jobs, or working with them on housing, Piazza Grande designs and run project with an empowering approach. Each space is designed to welcome and stay together, where everyone can contribute, share ideas, emotions, problems, and solutions. Personal empowerment, autonomy, relationships, and trust are key aspects to the work that Piazza Grande aims to accomplish, while working on a more inclusive community truly built on horizontal leadership.