Gruppo Abele

The Gruppo Abele is an association founded in Turin in 1965 by don Luigi Ciotti, which combines the welcoming of people in difficulty with cultural and political work; today it is a foundation based in corso Trapani and counts some forty activities.^[1]^[2]

Origins

In 1965 Ciotti founded the group «Gioventù impegnata» together with some friends.^[2] In 1973 the Gruppo opened the drug-counselling centre «Molo 53», open day and night, and in 1974 its first community, Cascina Abele in Murisengo; from 28 June to 10 July 1975 a tent set up in piazza Solferino called for a new law on drugs.^[2] In 1978 the courses of the Università della strada began, and in 1979 international cooperation work started, still active today in Ivory Coast.^[2]

Networks

In 1982 the Gruppo helped bring about the founding of the national Coordinamento delle comunità d'accoglienza, in 1986 it took part in founding Lila, and in 1995 it gave rise to Libera, the anti-mafia association that today brings together more than 1,600 organisations.^[1]^[2] In 1990 it opened the city's first care home for people with HIV, on the hill.^[2]

Culture and publishing

The Gruppo has published the magazines «Animazione Sociale» and, from 1993, «Narcomafie», whose legacy passed in 2019 to «lavialibera»; it also has a research centre, a library and a historical archive.^[2]^[1] Its publishing house, founded in 1983 and known since 2010 as Edizioni Gruppo Abele, closed in March 2025 due to rising costs and the crisis in paper publishing.^[2]^[3] In 2016 it opened Binaria, a bookshop and workshop, and in 2019 Casacomune.^[2] In 2024 Turin's City Council unanimously awarded don Ciotti the Sigillo civico.^[4]

Sources

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