2015: an unforgettable year

Every year marks a passage, a time to take stock and file away memories before letting in the new with renewed hopes and expectations.
For Liberi Nantes, 2015 was an intense year that we will always remember and that we say goodbye to with a special affection.
It remains firmly rooted, strengthened by all that was created, beneath a 2016 that will have the right impulse to begin well and always get better.
In our album of memories, there are many meaningful images of our work. We want to mention some of them, knowing full well that we are forgetting many others.

Let’s roll the snapshots to remember our participation in the Pietralata Social Street, when, armed with rakes and brushes, we went to help clean up the local neighbourhood square, together with many volunteers from other associations ♦-♦-♦ We remember the magnificent day of the presentation at the Olympic Stadium of the Calcio Solidale network, of which we were among the original promoters ♦–♦–♦ Hosting the celebration of an important and historic anniversary [Liberation Day, April 25th], of which our ground which carries the name, the April 25^th Stadium, with representatives from the local council ♦–♦–♦ Our joining the campaign to collect clothes and other items of comfort for the refugees at the tent city at Tiburtina Station ♦–♦–♦ The award to our association on the occasion of World Refugee Day at the Città dell’Altra Economia [a centre in Rome dedicated to sustainable agriculture and commerce] ♦–♦–♦ The short film by students of Giorgio Perlasca Middle School, who included us in their story of the exploration of the Pietralata neighbourhood ♦–♦–♦ Our participation in the European Conference of FARE in Barcelona, with the usual exchange of ideas with other Europeans, who, like use, use football to break down barriers of racism, sexism, discrimination and violence ♦–♦–♦ The handing over of our historic team shirt to Samuel Eto’o, who allowed us to go and see him in Sampdoria’s training camp ♦–♦–♦ The partnership with AS Roma and the support of Sisal Matchpoint, important fellow travellers who enable us to view the future with optimism ♦–♦–♦ Our usual involvement in the Antiracist World Cup in Castelfranco Emilia ♦–♦–♦ The completion of very important modernisation and maintenance work at the April 25^th Stadium, which we carried out with our Work Team made up of immense men who have travelled the seas and deserts to be here to teach what it means to start again from scratch, bringing beauty and progress to a public space like the April 25^th ♦–♦–♦ The historic and incredible match against the AS Roma Legends team on that October 11^th that we will never forget, with the stands of our ground packed with fans and full of enthusiasm ♦–♦–♦ The short films of The Guardian and Copa90, programmes on BBC Radio, Rai Sport, La Repubblica and many other important national, local and specialist publications that have followed us and stuck by us constantly ♦–♦–♦ The renewed trust of the UNHCR which has always followed our project with attention and sympathy ♦–♦–♦ The play “Pier Paolo” which was staged at the April 25^th Stadium, directed by Giorgio Barberio Corsetti and dedicated to Pasolini, who was at home at the April 25^th. It was another memorable day of culture and love for Pietralata ♦–♦–♦ The inclusion of the Liberi Nantes project among the 12 examples of Best Practice on the theme of Sport and Integration chosen by CONI [the Italian Olympic Committee] at a national level ♦–♦–♦ The photo reportage “Football Asylum” curated by Laura Montanari, Claudio Cesenaro and Marco Mastrojanni who followed us throughout the football season ♦–♦–♦ The recognition and support of Football Supporters Europe, who wanted to reward our project ♦–♦–♦ The participation in a lesson of the students of Pedagogy at the Sapienza University, who asked us to talk of our work with forced migrants ♦–♦–♦ Starting up the new activity of athletics which helped further enrich the possibility of providing free sport for forced migrants, thanks to the running track made available by the UISP of Roma inside the Fulvio Bernadini Stadium ♦–♦–♦ And finally, our annual members’ assembly, which was the occasion to discuss all the association’s activities, exchange ideas and put down the base for the coming year.

So we say goodbye to 2015 with great nostalgia because it leaves us a Liberi Nantes and continuing evolution, with participation levels in our activities in constant growth: over 250 boys and girls involved in the Football Club (both the official team and the open team), hiking, athletics, the Italian School and the Work Team.

The number of volunteers who are helping us reinforce our organisation’s structures is also growing, and bringing new enthusiasm and new skills. Similarly, our relations with the city’s institutions and other important service providers in Rome and in Italy are also becoming much stronger.

One last look back, but it’s already time to get moving. To us, to those who follow and support us with growing involvement, we wish a 2016 rich with dreams, in the hope that as many of those dreams as possible will come true.