Author name: sofia satragno

In our campaign promoting life beyond city limits, we reached out to our Platinum member, Constanza Lisdero, for her invaluable perspective. She shared, ‘I live in a small town, population 11,000, and I,’ she humorously jokes, ‘this is my garden,’ as she gracefully strolls through the tranquil streets of her community, surrounded by the green landscapes of farmers. Constanza Lisdero, a dedicated Platinum member of the ES VICIS Foundation Partners program, generously shared her testimonial, offering insights into the fulfilling life she leads outside urban confines. Discover her testimony in this video  

Over 140 people attended the “ESTACIONES RELOADED” concert, featuring a repertoire by Vivaldi and Piazzolla, and enjoyed the brilliant performances of soloists Andrés Gabetta and Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, accompanied by members of the Basel Symphony Orchestra.   On October 26, the “ESTACIONES RELOADED” concert took place, showcasing the works of Vivaldi and Piazzolla. The exceptional performance was led by soloists Andrés Gabetta and Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, accompanied by members of the Basel Symphony Orchestra, including Akiko Hasegawa (violin), Vahagn Aristakesyan (violin), Yun Wu (viola), Judith Gerster (cello), and Philippe Schnepp (double bass), with the Basel Symphony Orchestra as the event’s principal sponsor. Andrés Gabetta, a renowned Argentinian baroque violinist, is celebrated for his extraordinary talent. His recording of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”, performed with period instruments, was released by Sony. He also played “The Four Seasons” as a soloist during Vivaldi’s grand tour with Cecilia Bartoli in December 2018/January 2019. Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, born in Atessa on December 26, 1980, graduated with honors from the Santa Cecilia Academy of Music in Rome in 2007. Known for his refined musicality, Mario is an exceptional performer and has won numerous national and international competitions. In addition to the fantastic concert, attendees were treated to a welcome drink and a post-event cocktail. Launch of the Membership Program The ES VICIS leadership took the opportunity to share the foundation’s ongoing projects and vision, inviting attendees to join the neo-ruralization movement. During the event, the Membership Program was officially launched, offering an annual support system for ES VICIS initiatives and projects worldwide. Proceeds from ticket sales and additional donations will go towards expanding the impact of the “Welcome to My Village” program by the ES VICIS Foundation. To learn more about our membership program, visit esvicis.org/membership/.

Cintia Jaime, co-founder of the ES VICIS Foundation, was invited as a panelist at the Basel Peace Forum, where the foundation also led a workshop. Experts from diverse sectors gathered to explore alternatives for enhancing quality of life and promoting sustainability. Urbanization was critically examined, with the central question: Is the urbanization model, as outlined in the UN’s Quito Agenda of 2016, truly the ideal habitat for humanity?   20 January 2022, Basel – At the 5th Basel Peace Forum, the ES VICIS Foundation hosted a workshop titled “New Approach to Ruralization: The Realistic Alternative to Overcrowded Cities.” Participants included government officials, international organizations, academics, and sustainability experts. The event explored solutions to the problems caused by urban overcrowding, such as dangerous public spaces, poverty, high energy consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The ES VICIS Foundation advocates for innovative ruralization, revitalizing and repopulating villages by harnessing latent opportunities and promoting sustainable migration from cities to rural areas. This approach aims to support rural renewal and unlock economic potential through technology and innovation. Over 25 countries have expressed interest in the model. Johannes Matyassy, Deputy State Secretary at the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised the event for its innovative approach to addressing the challenges posed by urbanization. Cintia Jaime, co-founder of ES VICIS, emphasized the importance of questioning urbanization and proposing a new approach that harnesses technology and the global opportunities of digitalization to enrich rural areas. Daniel Winzenried, co-founder of ES VICIS, highlighted the opportunity to address territorial inequalities and the vulnerabilities of metropolitan areas exposed by the pandemic. Experts like Carlos Álvarez Pereira – Executive Director of The Club of Rome- also stressed the need to rethink urbanization and embrace revitalizing and repopulating villages as a tool for climate resilience and community well-being.