There are countries that seem small on the map, but are everywhere in the world. Scigliano, a municipality in the province of Cosenza, nestled in the mountains of central Calabria, is one of these. It has joined the project Municipalities in the world of the Italiani.it Foundation, signing the memorandum of understanding that connects it to a growing network of Italian municipalities determined to maintain contact with those who have left.
And from Scigliano, throughout the twentieth century, many departed. Calabria was one of the Italian regions most affected by emigration. Successive waves of men and women left their homelands to reach the industrial North, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Argentina. Scigliano was no exception. Its children scattered, put down roots elsewhere, and started families speaking different languages, but often they preserved, almost jealously, a sense of belonging to that Calabrian village where it all began. It is precisely to that silent loyalty that the Municipality responds today with a concrete act.
The project Municipalities in the world, promoted by the Italiani.it Foundation, is not a rhetorical exercise about a distant homeland. It is an operational tool that creates direct channels of communication between the local administration and emigrant citizens, fostering cultural exchange, allowing people to stay updated on local life, and still feel part of a community, even thousands of kilometers away. For Scigliano, joining this project means recognizing that the boundaries of a municipality do not coincide with the boundaries of a community. Sciglianesi around the world are as much a part of the country as those who live there every day.
Do you have roots in Scigliano?
Whether you were born there or your surname carries within it the memory of that Calabrian land, the project Municipalities in the world It wants you to receive news from your country, get in touch with the administration, and make your voice heard from where you are.
If you are Italian or descendant of Italian origin around the world, stay in touch with your country using this form: https://www.italiani.it/progetto-comuni-canale/contatti-per-comuni/.
You'll be among the first to receive updates on your country, be able to communicate directly with the administration, and much more!
