Forty-two professionals of eight different countries in Europe and Latin America accepted the invitation. The event which was held in the Focolare’s Lia town at the outskirts of Buenos Aires, not only hosted the seminar (9-21 March) financed by the European Union, but was also subjected to the study for the creation of a sustainable management and development model of a sustainable place to live in. To coincide with these times when we feel the urgency of questioning ourselves on the environment and promoting the quest for new technologies – with the planet’s survival at stake – the initiative was joined by the group, “Dialogue in Architecture,” a network of scholars and experts of the sector, inspired by the spirituality of the Focolare, given the actuality of the theme.

By immersing themselves in the discovery of the territory and its structures, the youth started by studying the PRESET (“Participation, Resilience and Employability through Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Training”), a study project promoted by the association Starkmacher – on the sustainability of the towns of the Focolare – and other partners such as the Fazenda da Esperança (Brazil), Fundación Unisol (Bolivia), New Humanity ((an NGO with Special Consultative Status within the Economic & Social Council of the United Nations) and Economy for tomorrow (Slovenia), and to work specifically on an integral eco-sustainable proposal for the town of Lia.

The youth participated in five thematic workshops guided by the value of fraternity as a lifestyle, and reached an integral eco-sustainable proposal (Ecocity Mariapolis) in which they involved all the inhabitants of the town, and also the youth of the district who attended for an afternoon to recount and speak of the environment.

The EcoCity Mariapolis that will implement the proposal while respecting the history of the town and carrying out concrete dialogues with its inhabitants, created during the seminar, a biogas system for one of the houses of the town, and explained the procedure to make compost, a study for the installation of a photovoltaic system, for the insulation of the constructions in order to save energy and for the replacement of bulbs with Led lights and many more. This seemed to be a step by step growth in the education on the environment. A set of didactic handouts will be prepared for the inhabitants and the visitors of the Mariapolis, to be diffused also in schools through the Web.

Also art was utilised for the efficacy of the proposal through the creation of a line of products (hair, hats, etc.) decorated with ethnic motifs and produced with ecologic material, and with a theatre performance connected to the theme.

A pleasant coincidence in those days was that the Dean of Sophia University Institute of Loppiano, Prof. Piero Coda, happened to be visiting the town and said: «I think this is not just a coincidence. Perhaps it is God’s design that is leading to something new, and creating a network of communion, work for solidarity and justice.»

Francesco from Udine gave a significant testimonial: «I work as an architect and am doing a Master’s in almost zero energy buildings. What I found most interesting in this workshop is the fact that people with diverse potentials and specializations are working together, and not only architects like us. I think this is the most enriching part for everyone: starting off with different potentials to reach a common objective which is that of sustainability, not only from the environmental but also from the economic and social points of view.»

Likewise Riccardo, an Italian architect, is convinced of the importance of working together: «I firmly believe that what I can do is but a small part, while together we could reach the objectives that will allow the entire society to exploit the resources well, and create satisfactory wellbeing for everyone including professionals. »