Fronte del Borgo is a wide open door to the area of Borgo Dora and the whole city beyond for everybody. It is the way into the Scuola Holden Library and the means of exchanging information with the people in the area. It is the information point of Dora Torino Sports Club and a free meeting space for whoever needs it. Fronte del Borgo offers free wi-fi, armchairs and it even offers coffee. But… not only.
Ever heard of 826 Valencia, taken into San Francisco (and beyond) by Dave Eggers? What about Fighting Words, founded by Roddy Doyle in Dublin? Or Ministry of Stories, founded by Nick Hornby in London?
These are non-profit organisations with two aims. First, making children and teenagers understand that reading and writing stories is amazing. Especially if we are talking about children and teenagers who believe reading and writing is as boring as hell. Second, helping teachers to convey enthusiasm.
Fronte del Borgo is part of the International 826-Inspired Organisations network. Schools that are not schools, but dens of under-18 pirates, places in which to discover the beauty of stories and teach the greatest number possible of children and young people to tell their own. Because we are convinced that mastering words is fundamental for the future of everyone, a resource necessary not only for obtaining good marks in school but also good decisions in life.
WHAT DO WE DO?
At the moment, we are offering free writing training to schools in Turin, from elementary to high schools.
We also have classes for teachers, parents and educators. That is Scuola con la Q, a course in which it is the teachers’ turn to go back to sitting behind a desk and to have fun writing stories.
For families who want to fool around and read with us, we organise a Merenda Selvaggia and the workshop La Magia delle Storie by actor Bombetta, one weekend a month. On our agenda, we also have after-school activities for elementary school children, an Italian course for foreigners, a reading club and writing training for teenagers.
GALLERY
Our sponsor, BMW, were the first ones to believe in this project. They share our goals and, thanks to their help, we are able to organise nearly all of the activities we offer for free.
And that’s not all. We also have an army of volunteer tutors, students from Scuola Holden (past, current and future) who give the cause an hour of their own time a month (or sometimes just come to Fronte del Borgo to talk about their last book, an exhibition they have worked in or the project they are most proud of).
What is more, at the moment we are collecting stories invented by the teenagers who drop by Fronte del Borgo. We are going to publish them online, on a dedicated website, or on paper, because we would like to create a “library” of their stories in a place tailored to them.
Another good news: since 2020, all our activities are sponsored by Città di Torino. Hooray!
Five heroic captains steer this crazy galleon: Domitilla and Francesco (who together founded Merende Selvagge,) Michele (who is also our librarian), Valentina and Roberta.
When and how you can find us.
We are open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 3 pm to 7 pm.
And the rest of the time? We either have classes, or we’re planning new activities.