The challenge of the Goel cooperative group to transform a “brand” synonymous with ‘Ndrangheta into a model of sustainable tourism and the fight for legality opens up a new challenge: to convert a structure confiscated from the’ Ndrangheta into a model of environmental and social sustainability . It is the Locride eco-hostel, managed in Locri (Reggio Calabria) by the Goel cooperative group, and just renovated thanks to the support of the “Con il Sud” and “Peppino Vismara” foundations.
At 1,600 meters from the Ionian sea, the Locride eco-hostel is equipped with low-consumption lighting, photovoltaic electricity, solar thermal and air quality control. It uses natural cosmetics, eco detergents or from recycled supply chains, ecological paper, paperless information material, organic linen, serves organic breakfast with local products. Management and maintenance are entrusted to non-profit social cooperatives and the products used come from Goel’s social cooperatives.
The courage not to give up
“Here there is everything: the courage not to give up in the face of intimidation, the desire to give back to the community something that had been taken away from it and to do so by enriching these spaces and filling them with opportunities and, again, the ability to experiment with alternative solutions, which focus not only on the individual but also on the environment »said the president of the“ Con il Sud ”Foundation, Carlo Borgomeo, who financed the eco-sustainability project together with the“ Vismara ”foundation. “This project demonstrates, once again, the great ability of the Third Sector to carry out initiatives that create true development even in the most difficult areas”.
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“Why fear does not prevail”
Built in a building confiscated from the ‘Ndrangheta in 2005, the Locride hostel was financed by the European Regional Development Fund (Fesr) through the Pon Sicurezza and renovated by the Municipality of Locri. “After the first competition for free assignment to non-profit organizations, on 9 April 2016, which went deserted, we decided to take the field so as not to let fear prevail” as the president of Goel, Vincenzo Linarello recalls.
Just 10 days after the announcement of the assignment, the structure suffered heavy damage to the plants. But the consortium, the Municipality of Locri and the state institutions responded with a “party of the restart” for the delivery of the keys. Through the responsible tourism tour operator of “I Viaggi del Goel”, the hostel is now also offered to high schools in the north-central who go to “learn” the law in Calabria. In July 2020 the hostel was included among the structures of the “Legalitour” project by the MIUR and the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission, whose memorandum of understanding was signed in Locri.
An example of the victory of legality
“It is an example of the victory of legality over the ‘Ndrangheta and of social redemption and can really contribute to a different and innovative image of Locri,” said the mayor of Locri, Giovanni Calabrese. “We are proud of the collaboration between the Municipality of Locri and Goel,” he added. “I hope we can work with the state and local agencies, through targeted funding, so that all the confiscated properties can be used by the city and its community.