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| Soprasotto |
Soprasotto is a self-managed kindergarden opened in 2013 by a group of parents who wanted to find a solution to the fact that their children were not admitted to public kindergardens. This was due to the fact that the application requirements are still privileging parents with traditional permanent contracts, de facto excluding the many precarious people who are self-employed or freelance. In Milan, the number of places available in public crèches is not sufficient to satisfy the demand: 30% of children are left out every year (around 3.000 children). Those who can pay private nurseries do so, however this is not an option for many. Private kindergartens fees range between 650 to 900 EU per month, while public ones charge between 180 to 480 EU.
The monthly fee charged to parents by Soprasotto is 350 EU. It employs two full-time qualified nursery teachers. Other costs are kept low by a combination of novel approaches. There are no 'service' figures, but interchangeable roles that the parents take on in rotation to ensure that the daily organization, the feeding of children and educators, special activities and the general administration can run smoothly. Rent is kept low via a partnership with another third sector organization that allows children to use their space, which would otherwise be under-utilised during day time. A set of purpose-built furniture that is children-friendly and that can be swifty stacked away after use has been developed with a local makerspace, WeMake. Meals are prepared by the parents on rotation, a solution that generated quite a few problems for the collective, as it formally violates some of the official health & safety laws regulating food preparation in such settings.
SopraSotto is managed by the parents' assembly which meets monthly and is responsible for deciding on organizational issues and, in agreement with the teachers, on special projects and activities. The kindergarten is also conceived as an open social space with strong relations with the neighborhood in which it is located. Travelling in purpose-built trolleys, the children enjoy regular trips to the market, the library, a nearby collectively-run garden and to the shops of local artisans.