Under the midday sun, Maty and Alma are walking across Livorno's Garibaldi Square. Nearly 60 years separate them but the young immigrant and the elderly Italian woman are getting to know each other as part of a social project that sees mutual aid and solidarity provide new hope in the port city.

The "Riconoscerci Solidali" initiative was launched last year by the "Mezclar22" association in collaboration with CESDI - The Immigrant Women's Service Center — with the funding from the Waldensian Church. Its aim is to develop labour inclusion and solidarity practices with young immigrants and refugees helping some of the neighbourhood's older residents.