To promote equal opportunities for women and men in a changing economy . Recipe n.35 RIC'AMANDO PALERMO (EMBROIDERING - LOVING PALERMO) What The fundamental objective of the project is to relaunch crafts activities in the decayed Kalsa neighbourhood, to revitalize the economic fabric and ensure that the unemployed, uneducated young women involved in the project have a chance to find new employment opportunities. In the City of Palermo this is the first project to focus attention on the condition of excluded women, who are given the chance to express themselves though work activities and deal with real, everyday problems with the aid of social workers and specialised medical staff (gynaecologists and psychologists). How much The project was born as a part of the process of urban renewal implemented though the funds of Community Initiative Programme "Urban Palermo". How The initiative settled up an embroidery workshop and other crafts activities operated by the "Ric'amando Palermo" Association, including 24 young women from Kalsa neighbourhood. In the workshop, eight "master craftswomen" have engaged in the activities of embroidery, cutting and sewing, filet, knitting, and fabric, glass and ceramic painting, teaching their crafts techniques to the students. Trade association representatives and marketing and business experts have given the students information on possible professional outlets so they can find stable employment. Why The situation prior to initiative was by a widespread sense of social and environmental malaise caused by rampant violence, alcoholism, and prostitution, in a marginal neighbourhood where women in particular often live in precarious situations that make it extremely difficult to support themselves and their children. Crafts shops, which lined the little lanes of the Historic Centre until the 1950's and 1960's, and the art of embroidery, which flourished until a few decades ago, have now almost completely vanished. The workshop, created by Urban project, is quite in this reality; it has four three-hour sessions a week for two years, but the promoters hope the women will support themselves selling their products in future. Results The Association's activities are the first concrete initiative focused on marginalized women residing in the Urban area. The project has offered women in the Kalsa neighbourhood an opportunity to learn ancient arts that now have the potential to become gainful employment. As testimony to the effectiveness of the initiative, "Ric'amando Palermo" organised a show and sale of handcrafted items made by the Association References Ignazio Messina, Europe Office - Councillorship for Community and International Resources Villa Trabia - Via Salinas, 3 - 90141 Palermo Tel.+39 91 740 59 37 - Fax +39 91 740 59 29 E-mail: info@urbanpalermo.org WEB SITE:www.urbanpalermo.org