Source : Charlotte Stead
Source : Charlotte Stead
“ Change is always difficult but we don ’ t want to change things that much . It ’ s about visibility and creating more opportunities .”
In the face of financial hardship , Casa Italiana is not relying on the glory of its past but is instead looking towards its future . Its ‘ youth revolution ’ is fighting to keep the club alive for another sixty years , yet its identity and values are not going to change . This is important to protect Italian customs of old , which Francesca says we can learn a lot from . “ You look at the people here today that are meeting , playing cards , socialising in a beautiful way . We do that in British culture – that ’ s not exclusive to Italians – but there ’ s a desire to preserve certain traditions and that ’ s something we can take .”
Source : Charlotte Stead
At its heart , Casa Italiana is about bringing people together through a shared love of Italian culture . It is a time capsule into London ’ s Little Italy which is also keeping the Italian language and spirit alive . The community on show at Casa Italiana is an important antidote to loneliness , which can set in both for younger migrants and elderly Italians , and , particularly in the case of Francesca and Isabella , a reminder of family . “ I ’ ve come here today ,” Isabella says , “ and it ’ s made me want to call my nonna later !”
By Bruno Quinney ( He / Him ) : Final Year Italian French and Portuguese // Charlotte Stead ( She / Her ): Second Year Italian and Spanish // Eve Massey ( She / Her ): Second Year Italian and Spanish
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