The Municipality of Bologna (Institution for Social and Community Inclusion Don Paolo Serra Zanetti, International Relations and Projects Office, Public Works) is the coordinator of the project, which was designed and implemented by 16 partners with the support of 12 Local Stakeholders.

The overall objective of project is to build a center for hospitality and work as well as intercultural welfare and wellness: Salus Space.

The project was designed to turn the ex clinic “Villa Salus”, which have been in a state of abandonment and decay for years, into a center for hospitality, work, intercultural and social welfare where students, workers, migrants and families are trained for the future management of the property and the creation of business activities.

A maximum number of about 80 people will be hosted, including families, refugees or asylum seekers. There will be a  bed & breakfast with 12 places available.

The purpose of Salus Space is to create and define an innovative and replicable model of reception and integration for refugees, to be used also in other European contexts.

The main goals regards the social inclusion and the development of a hub of proximity services economically sustainable and replicable in other territories.

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation procedures are used during the whole process and are shared with all the partners, citizens included. A dedicated evaluation team has been set up in order to evaluate the project. This group, composed by professional evaluators and citizens, meets regularly and supports the project partners in achieving the expected results and guaranteeing quality and sustainability over time.

The innovativeness regards the creation of an experimental site for social innovation through a participatory design process (co-design), with a generative and intercultural Welfare approach.

An important success factors is the presence of a big local support network aimed at realizing the activity with a participatory method.

About the obstacles encountered, during the project the first target group, that includes SPRAR beneficiaries, was partially redefined due to the new Italian law.

One of the purpose of the project is define an innovative and replicable model to be used in other European Countries.

The chance to expand the project in other contexts depends on its economical sustainability, that will be evaluated during the testing phase.