Italian Municipality Launches Innovative Program to Strengthen Relationships Through Communication
A new initiative aims to equip couples and those considering long-term commitment with the tools for building lasting, fulfilling partnerships.
A groundbreaking program designed to foster stronger, more resilient relationships is set to launch in Italy, offering couples and individuals planning civil marriages, civil unions, or cohabitation a unique opportunity for preparation and support. The initiative, titled “From I to we. The construction of a love,” is a collaboration between the local municipal administration and the Paideia-Insieme Association for APS education. The program will consist of three evening meetings led by relationship experts and is scheduled to begin as soon as sufficient registrations are received.
The program was unveiled Wednesday at a press conference held at the municipal headquarters, featuring Councilor for Educational Policies Silvia Sarti and Laura Matteucci, president of the Paideia Association. Matteucci, a pedagogist, will lead the sessions alongside psychologist Veronica Giannini.
“We are very satisfied with the start of this innovative path,” explained Councilor Sarti. “We want to give people planning an important life transition – ‘a life for two’ – the possibility of sharing their experience with others making the same choice, creating an exchange and mutual support network.” The program is designed to be inclusive, offering moments of information and reflection on relationship dynamics, interpersonal communication, and the societal value of commitment. Sarti emphasized the program’s focus on building love as an active process.
The three core themes of the meetings will be “From me to you until we get to us,” “Communication in the couple,” and “The social value in marriage.” Discussions will center on differentiating between healthy love and power imbalances, finding equilibrium between individual freedom and shared belonging, and recognizing the potential for personal growth within a relationship. A significant emphasis will be placed on non-violent communication techniques.
According to Matteucci, the program’s focus on individual interiority and relational structures encourages self-reflection and a deeper understanding of personal histories and choices. “Each new family can bring new lifestyles and thoughts; a new gaze, capable of reading the world according to the paradigm of unity,” she stated. “It is particularly important to give couples the opportunity to learn about and experiment with non-violent communication, which allows them to acquire a natural and effective language that improves communication with themselves and with others.” This approach, she explained, prioritizes connection and understanding over discord.
The sessions will be highly experiential, incorporating laboratory activities, group discussions, simulation exercises, problem-solving scenarios, and practical exercises in translating everyday language into the principles of non-violent communication.
Interested individuals can register for the course by sending an email to [email protected].
