Sardinian clubs in Italy and abroad: "That equal treatment that is still lacking"

Fifty years in the world of emigration, a commitment that involved him starting from the base up to becoming deputy vice president of the Council for emigration of the Sardinia Region. “All voluntary work”, explains Domenico Scala , born in 1947 and originally from Alghero , who arrived in Zurich immediately after graduating as a designer and still remains in Switzerland, even after retirement.

Those who left Sardinia in the seventies like him were looking for a job, an opportunity, a future made of satisfactions and, like so many Sardinians, initially looked for fellow countrymen in the city. The Zurich club already existed, having been born in 1968, and it is there that Scala was introduced by the president of the time, who arrived from Dolianova: "I went there for the pleasure of meeting many other Sardinians - he explains to L'Unione Sarda - Then they realized that, so to speak, I was 'promising'. The reason is obvious: on the occasion of a visit by the regional councilor for agriculture, while everyone was in awe and did not speak, I asked to speak for my intervention ". It may have been his refined language, or his no-nonsense gab, or even his frankness, the fact is that in 1975 he was appointed as a delegate to participate in the national council of the Federation of Sardinian clubs in Switzerland and was elected secretary "who then you can say he counted more than the president ”. A leading role, in short, and in a few years it reached the top: the presidency.

What were the clubs doing in those years?

“We worked a lot, I was happy. There were various activities, I must say mainly on a political basis but not only. For example, we claimed free colonies for all children, the right to school for the children of foreigners, and even then the key was being hit on the problem of transport to Sardinia, with requests for tickets at a good price. The associations in Switzerland have grown numerically, the historical ones as well as Zurich were Baden, Schaffhausen, Geneva, Lausanne, Liestal and Basel ”.

And what did the Swiss say about the Sardinians?

“We were very respected. Known as hard workers, educated and good natured. Between us we helped each other, especially towards those who had just arrived. Over the years the emigrants have invested a lot in their children, today they are all young people who occupy positions of great prestige, they have been transmitted the love for Sardinia and not only our usual values such as honesty and seriousness. Our commitment was for all Sardinians, even those who, having reached retirement, wished to return to the island, so that they could receive a contribution from the Region, or the families of those who were missing for the handling of the paperwork on the transport of the bodies " .

Then the role of the clubs has changed a bit.

"In Switzerland and in Europe and overseas, yes, once I left behind the feeling of anger for 'having been forced' to go abroad, it was a reproach against the political class of the time".

And the holidays?

“There were always, of course, but not just folk. For example, not all of our fellow countrymen knew who Eleonora d'Arborea or Grazia Deledda were, they were curious to learn more about certain historical figures, so they organized conferences, lectures, music was a showcase ".

No more politics?

“We had to follow that by force, let's not forget that we had to face a couple of referendums against foreigners. In Switzerland the rules are very strict: if you do not have a Swiss passport you cannot vote. I have never taken it ".

Did you sell Sardinian products?

“Sardinian products, I have been saying this ever since and I repeat it now, are advertised not by selling them in circles but by making them known to friends. They are found everywhere in supermarkets and are also of excellent quality. What should we do? Putting ourselves in competition with local businesses? The circles must not let interest and trade enter ”.

Bar service?

"Absolutely no. There is only at the Geneva club. In Zurich we have a fridge if anyone wants a bottle of water. And you don't play cards. The office is open on Thursday, then we of the board meet every 15 days, but for information or other we are always available, just a phone call or an email ".

What is the relationship between the associations abroad and the Italian ones?

“A strong break. Emigration outside Italy is one thing, that within the same nation is another. They cannot be put on the same level because, as is obvious, those who go abroad have to face even practical problems of great importance: finding work, accommodation, knowing the laws, bureaucracy. And then there is the language barrier. Does anyone want me to believe that those who stay in Italy have the same difficulties? But it's not just this".

What else?

“The difference in treatment that the Region reserves for us, which knows little about the world of emigration outside Italy. We receive a slew of circulars in bureaucratese, never once has anyone thought of organizing a meeting to explain what was written in it: we must remember that in many realities the clubs are run by second generation Sardinians who speak Italian but often it is not their first language. A comparison would be much more useful, as well as the study of who we are who live in other states, the true ambassadors of Sardinia ".

Bureaucracy is a big limitation.

“I'll give you an example: certified e-mail, certified e-mail. Something that exists only in Italy, we don't even know what it is abroad ".

What about the contributions you receive from the Region?

“One part is linked to the number of members. From thirty percent we asked for it to go down to 20, in the end we got 25 percent. If in Italy there are over 70 clubs, and they claim to count on 30 thousand members, it is obvious that they take the 'biggest piece of the pie'. Instead in Switzerland there are realities with 100 members and they do a lot of activities. But I think so: once an association is officially recognized it must have equal treatment with the others ".

And it doesn't happen.

“Homogeneity of attention is not reserved for a new club opened in the Peninsula with another club that is inaugurated in another European city. Let us ask ourselves why clubs in Italy grow numerically while they gasp or close in the rest of Europe and the world. For example, in Switzerland the clubs of Zurich, Bodio, Geneva, Lausanne and Lucerne are currently active, there were 12 ”.

Will you have some points in common, for example the question of tickets to Sardinia?

“Ancient history, I was one of the proponents of the need to guarantee Sardinians some facilities. But if the law 7/91, the regional one focused on the world of emigration, establishes that the recipients are also the children of emigrants, then we have to deal with companies that do not respect this principle. To avoid misunderstandings about the increase in Italian tourism to Sardinia, the Region should all the more reason to allow concessions and discounts for those who have the card of an active club from any other part of Europe and the world. Only in this way can there be equal treatment towards Sardinians who emigrated to Italy and those who emigrated abroad ".

Do tourists in Sardinia come from Italy or from abroad to a large extent?

“It depends on the bell you listen to. I rely on the data: 50 percent of arrivals are Italian, the other half foreigners. So far it is clear, but if you go on holiday to Alghero from Cagliari, you register as an Italian at the hotel. In Switzerland we have 520,000 Italians and about 250,000 have double passports. Those who arrive on the island can deliver the Italian one and are therefore not foreign. The deduction is that the 50 percent that in theory comes from abroad is actually much higher. And we emigrated outside Italy among the promoters of this tourism ”.

So is it the same for Sardinian products?

“I have always been convinced of the fact that clubs are not and should not be commercial centers but centers of organization and diffusion of Sardinia in the world. And precise of Sardinia in its completeness of expressions: historical, cultural, social, civil, traditional, anthropological, economic, productive, identity in general. The associations cannot take the place of Sardinian entrepreneurs or the Chambers of Commerce. Advertising cannot be done by clubs but by the Region. So, I repeat, I cannot conceive of associations that do business ”.