In an era in which depopulation increasingly threatens our small towns, a group of boys and girls from Sardinia return from Galicia with a suitcase full of innovative ideas to revitalize the rural areas of the island. From 2 to 8 July, they participated in an international workshop together with other young Spaniards and Serbians, in Senderiz, a small Spanish village that has become a model of rural rebirth thanks to coliving.
The project, called Growth (Generating Rural Opportunities through Work, Training, and Housing), co-financed by the European Union, is part of the Erasmus+ program and sees the participation of the Stintino association Absentia - Exploring the Absence, together with the Spanish partner Sende and Serbian Centar za kulturu i obrazovanje Sonta. The target? Transforming abandoned and rural spaces into creative and coliving spaces, attracting professionals and remote workers from all over the world to countries at risk of depopulation.
«It was an enlightening experience», says Giada Moschella, 23 years old from Stintino. «We saw with our own eyes how a town of only 20 inhabitants was reborn thanks to coliving. Now I dream of replicating this model in my country." During the workshop, participants learned how to design coliving spaces, manage communities, and promote these projects internationally.
Giacomo Cossu, 29 years old from Aggius, adds: «What struck me most was seeing how these spaces can become real catalysts for change. It's not just about offering a bed and a desk, but about creating ecosystems that foster innovation and entrepreneurship." The potential for Sardinia is enormous. With its charming villages and ever-improving connectivity, the Island could become a paradise for remote workers from around the world. «Imagine Stintino, Baradili or the hamlet of San Lorenzo transformed into international creative hubs, without losing their identity», suggests Fabrizio Contini, president of Absentia. The GROWTH project doesn't stop here. In the coming months, participants will work to launch pilot projects in different areas of Sardinia. The initiative comes at a crucial time. According to recent Istat data, many Sardinian municipalities continue to lose population, especially young people. Similar projects in Sende and other rural colivings could offer an innovative solution, combining tradition and modernity.
