Who we are

The Incontro non-profit social cooperative as founded in Mandello del Lario, in the Lecco province of Lombardy, in 1986, under the initiative of the “Gruppo Amici degli Handicappati” non-profit association to promote social inclusion of people with disabilities through work as a tool to reach this purpose. The municipality rents a building to the cooperative where are presently implemented assembly work activities for third parties. From the original 6 young adults with disabilities, all working members of the cooperative, 21 can now be found, part of which are sent by the job counselling services, with 2 operators and some volunteers. In 2013 the agricultural sector was opened, because its elder members worked in the agricultural field (apple picking and stable works) and got fascinated by it. The project is now in the planning phase (the farming soil still has to be purchased) and should be implemented by 2016 on the occasion of the 30 years anniversary of the farm.

Activities

Operators are realising a project which is not only a space for agricultural work but also a tourism and hospitality opportunity for people with disabilities (recreational days that also include visits to the lake). The cooperative is now using external professionals for the training of farming personnel and earthworm experts in the perspective of production and sale of humus, even using compost from the population organic waste.