“The grain of sand”: the new women's periodical of the Ecole de Madame Foile of Villacidro is born

The Ecole de Madame Foile of Villacidro , the only textile school in Sardinia and community for mentally ill women, from this month also has its own bimonthly magazine: Il granello di sand .

«We have been working on this initiative, proposed by the girls, for some time. Now it is a reality that we hope to continue for a long time" says Veronica Usula , educator and director of the Ecole de Madame Foile. «A sheet to be published periodically, which in this first zero issue is in a reduced form but already has within itself the essence of the school and of the women of our female community, who will become not only authors and illustrators of the magazine but also postmen, delivering the copies at home in the village. A way to combine creativity with the therapeutic usefulness of walking in company."

Each printed copy is unique: colored by the women of the Ecole, sewn and bound with a red thread which is both a symbol and an identifying character of the women's textile school.

Veronica Usula founded the association and the Madame Foile project in 2012 , starting from the renovation of a Campidanese house in the historic center of Villacidro, which quickly became not only a welcoming and protected home for the women of the school but also a place where where to learn a trade: Veronica Usula, as well as being an educator and art therapist, is also a weaving master: she has created a community of textile craftsmanship by teaching her students and "sisters" the art of loom and spindle.

The works of the Ecole have traveled to Sardinia and many other places in Italy: Veronica Usula and the women of the school have participated and participate in fairs, events and initiatives presenting the works, tapestries and weavings made with the looms and yarns that they guard at the Ecole.

For a few months , "Il piccolo Sogno" has also been active in Villacidro, a permanent creative workshop of female sharing and art therapy open to the public every Monday and Wednesday from 4pm to 7pm. "The laboratory is located in via Parrocchia in the room under the Moving Castle, our female cohabitation project dedicated to women who have completed their rebirth journey at the Ecole and who can thus experience cohabitation and autonomy", explains Veronica Usula.