As part of our effort to share inspiring social enterprise stories, we highlight a remarkable initiative from Italy: the Pisa Community Pact (PCP). This community-driven movement exemplifies social inclusion, urban regeneration, and solidarity-based welfare. Established in 2019 in the neighborhoods of San Martino and San Marco in Pisa, the initiative emerged from grassroots efforts led by local parish units, supported by the Fondazione Opera Giuseppe Toniolo. Since then, it has evolved into a dynamic network involving citizens, associations, cooperatives, unions, and third-sector organizations.

The Pact was created in response to growing social inequalities, which were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is founded on principles of community participation, reciprocity, and collective care. Its primary mission is to rebuild social connections among society’s most vulnerable groups by fostering opportunities for training, employment, mutual support, and cultural exchange.
Among its key initiatives are:
– Sportello Dignitatem, a social help desk providing essential support services.
– A solidarity-based purchasing group to enhance collective economic resilience.
– A reuse and repair center promoting sustainability and waste reduction.
– Tessere Fraternità, a tailoring and weaving workshop that empowers women and vulnerable individuals through professional training.

A significant milestone was the renovation of a former nursery school, abandoned for over 40 years, into a vibrant community space that now hosts many of these initiatives. The Pact’s reach extends beyond local efforts. In 2024, it coordinated the shipment of over €3 million in medical supplies to Senegal, demonstrating the power of collective action and global solidarity. Its impact is measured not only in numbers but also in transformed lives, newly created jobs, and strengthened partnerships. Despite challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles and limited funding, the Pact continues to expand. Future plans include:
– Transforming the Social Tailoring Lab into a fully-fledged social enterprise.
– Launching support services for children with dyslexia.
– Revitalizing underutilized urban spaces, such as a former theatre, with the long-term goal of fostering a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and inclusive community.

The Pisa Community Pact stands as a replicable model of civic innovation, proving that collective commitment and cooperation can drive meaningful, lasting change. To read the entire article on this initiative, check out the OBCD platform materials, it can be found inside the Social Enterprise stories folder.

Additionally, discover more at www.pattodicomunitapisa.it.