Spazi di Crescita: The Story of a New Beginning for Jorge and His Family
We are sharing the text published on the Spazi di Crescita – Paths to Autonomy and Inclusion website, a project promoted by Spazio Aperto Servizi ETS with the support of the Fondazione Guido Venosta.
In the photo: Jorge and our President, Giuseppe Caprotti.
When Jorge tells his story, he uses simple words filled with gratitude: he arrived in Italy from Colombia in April 2025 and today lives in a welcoming apartment with his wife Cindy and their three children aged 11, 9 and 2. But just a few months ago, he did not know where they would sleep the following night.
A necessary escape
Jorge and Cindy are from Cartagena, where they had a stable life: a job, a home, a peaceful family. Jorge worked in port logistics, while Cindy—an administrative professional and workplace safety specialist—helped her brother run the family restaurant.
Then everything changed: “Two people came to the restaurant asking for money so we could keep working.” Local criminal groups began demanding money in exchange for “protection.” Cindy’s brother ignored the threats, but the situation escalated when a delivery boy was killed. The greatest fear came when Cindy received a threatening letter with photos of the school attended by their eldest child.
“We understood we couldn’t stay any longer—we had to leave. Our family was in danger.”
They sold everything—the house, the car, the motorbike—and with a lifetime of savings they booked a flight to Italy, driven by the desire to offer their children new opportunities and convinced that, with their skills, they could build a solid future. But once they arrived, reality was harsh: “My wife and I are professionals, but in Italy we discovered that we are nothing.”
The first months in Italy
As soon as they arrived in Milan, they turned to a church and, through the parish solidarity network, found someone who offered them hospitality and support in starting the bureaucratic procedures required to stay in Italy. They booked an appointment at the police headquarters for the residence permit, but the first available date—in November—was too far away: without a residence permit, they could not obtain an employment contract and truly start a new life. In the meantime, to support themselves, they drew on their savings, which began to run out.
More problems followed: without documents and without a contract, neighbors started complaining about the presence of a foreign family in the building. To avoid drawing attention, they spent their days outside in the park and returned only in the evening to sleep.
Until one day, the apartment owner told Jorge they could no longer stay. Jorge felt lost, with no way out. “We were in the park with our suitcases. I didn’t know what to do anymore. We tried asking social services, but they would have split us up. Then Fabrizio arrived, a friend from church. He found us, he helped us. It was a miracle.”
Fabrizio became the first link in a chain of solidarity that changed the family’s fate: thanks to his intervention, they came into contact with Spazio Aperto Servizi.
We activated immediately to find accommodation, and that very evening the family entered one of our social-housing apartments—a two-room flat available for a couple of months. It was quickly furnished with essentials—mattresses, pots, sheets—giving the family a roof over their heads and a measure of peace. It was an emergency housing solution, but one that allowed them to breathe again.
During the summer we identified a new apartment suited to the family’s needs, and they moved there in September.
Meeting Spazi di Crescita
Thanks to the Spazi di Crescita project and the support of the Fondazione Guido Venosta, the initial costs were covered and all furnishings were purchased—bedrooms, furniture, appliances, everyday household items—to make the space welcoming and functional.
When Jorge saw the home, his eyes filled with tears. “I am a believer, I’m Christian. For me this was another miracle. I’m a professional and I have ambitions, but the most important thing is my family. I don’t care about luxury, I’m a simple person—I just need the essentials. In this house there is everything that’s needed: a roof, a warm bed, water. My children are safe—I don’t need anything else.”
From housing to autonomy
A home is only the first step on their path toward autonomy, which continues with our support. Through the project, we can guarantee the family ongoing guidance. It was possible to bring the appointment at the police headquarters forward by two months, allowing the residence-permit process to begin more quickly. The children are in school (the youngest will soon start nursery), and the family has obtained residency registration.
Cindy, while waiting for the final documents, is doing some small jobs, while Jorge takes care of the home and the children: “I wake up early, make breakfast for everyone, take the children to school, then I do the cleaning.”
We will continue to accompany Jorge and Cindy, providing them with all the tools they need to build a more stable and self-determined future—from converting their driving license to preparing a CV to look for work.
Jorge, Cindy and their children are living peacefully and looking ahead with confidence.
Thanks to Spazi di Crescita, an intervention born out of an emergency has become a true path of renewal.
