San Patrignano: A Community that thrives on hope and altruism

The San Patrignano Community, located in northern Italy and close to the Adriatic Sea, is one of those places you can’t help but be intrigued by. And then, once you’ve taken a closer look, you can’t help but marvel at the spirit and meaning that defines it.

While San Patrignano is a name with which many may be familiar for the various prestigious equestrian events held over the past few years, namely the 5* CSI held in 2006 for which it received the 2006 Année Hippique Best Event Award or even the 2005 European Jumping Championships, there is more to San Patrignano then meets the eye. Indeed, what sets San Patrignano apart is even greater than the terrific location and facilities on offer – a social mission fueled by a diversified and successful economy. In 2006 San Patrignano’s head, Andrea Muccioli, was named “Social Enterpreneur of the Year” at the “World Economic Forum” in recognition of the success of the community’s recovery model.

The origins of the community date back to 1978 when 20 volunteers helped Vincenzo Muccioli build what would become the San Patrignano community - today, the largest rehabilitation centre for drug addictions in Europe. Indeed, in the 28 years of activity, the San Patrignano Community has welcomed and helped rehabilitate over 20.000 people in a drug free condition.

The mission of the San Patrignano community, whose renown and reputation make it a poster boy for successful rehabilitation, is as follows:

“To welcome and rehabilitate socially marginalized individuals and drug addicts without any social, political, or religious discrimination. To offer this service completely free of charge to those who need it and their families, and without requesting government allocations. To put an end to addiction and social marginalization through individualized paths to recovery based on dignity, honesty, responsibility, respect for oneself and others. To use professional training as an instrument for the total social rehabilitation of the people welcomed into the community. To provide support to families, and create initiatives advancing drug abuse prevention and education for a drug free world. To collect economic resources through our activities, as well as through private and public contributions necessary for and consistent with the development of our mission.” [http://www.sanpatrignano.org/page.php?catid=308]

And if you think that the mission statement sounds utopic, then prepare yourself for the reality, an achievement which continues to defy expectations and blur the boundaries. The boundaries with which we are all accustomed that would have business, non profit and government/social sectors all very separate. Indeed, all the models we know for social integration and economic viability are thrown out the window when the social meets the economic, or when the individual meets the collective – and in this case where drug rehabilitation meets economic sustainability and prosperity - a feat which the San Patrignano community has clearly accomplished.

As with any treatment programme, San Patrignano’s success depends upon the individual’s desire to work to change his or her life, however, unlike most other treatment centres, where patients are segregated from society, San Patrignano is a thriving community with a real flurry of life and industry. From its inception, it was founder Vincenzo Muccioli’s belief that there was “a business solution to the drug addict’s life”. [Vincenzo Muccioli, Founder San Patrignano] He knew that the collaborative relationships with the external world were critical to the community’s long term success.

Today, what may have appeared as a vision has become a reality with over 56 professional training sectors or industry clusters, cooperatives ranging from wine making, high-end furniture, artwork, fabrics, wood working, cheese making, horse and dog breeding, or even state of the art publishing. To grasp the scale, imagine a kitchen that produces 4,000 meals on a daily basis, of which 80% of the food – from bread to pasta, milk to cheese, vegetables to meat, wine to pastries – is produced by the community. There is very little that goes to waste in San Patrignano as all that is produced is either used to sustain the community or exported to generate revenue.

Whether it be dog breeding, wine making or creating works of art, the value of all craftsmanship is highly regarded in San Patrignano. One can only imagine that the quality and competitive excellence of the San Patrignano “products” play a significant role in the pride of the collective community and the recovery and rehabilitation of many individuals. The job skills and professionalism acquired prove to be essential to a successful reintegration into the workforce and society.

The San Patrignano community is now a large family of 1800 members, including over 160 volunteers, many of whom are former drug addicts that now dedicate their time to accompanying the next generation as they make their way through the recovery program. There are also 200 professionals and consultants that contribute to the many activities which take place at San Patrignano, such as legal assistance and medical care, higher education and professional training, publicity, accounting, and marketing.

It is fair to say that the success of the community now rests on more than the vision of one man, but in the hands of all the members that perpetuate a myth and a vision of collective awareness and altruism. Not only do all they perpetuate the vision, but they attest to its success, on both an economic and social basis.

Respect for self and others, ethics of responsibility, and a spirit of altruism towards those in need: these are the founding principles of the San Patrignano model.

Let us be inspired, there is perhaps a lot to be learnt from a thriving microcosm.



For more information on San Patrignano, please visit the official website at http://www.sanpatrignano.org/page.php?catid=214