La Rotonda – Who They Are and What They Do

La Rotonda is a community organisation that has been operating in Baranzate for over a decade, supporting one of Italy’s most diverse and socio‑economically vulnerable municipalities. The organisation works to strengthen social cohesion and improve the wellbeing of local families through educational, social, and community‑based services.

A core element of its mission is the after‑school programme for children aged 8–13, which currently supports around 210 minors from highly diverse backgrounds and offers academic tutoring, creative workshops, language support, and community activities. La Rotonda also manages services for families facing economic hardship and promotes social inclusion among the 80+ nationalities living in Baranzate.

What NEF Does with La Rotonda

NextEnergy Foundation (NEF) has collaborated with La Rotonda since the COVID‑19 pandemic, supporting both emergency interventions and long‑term community development.

Past initiatives include:

• 2020 – COVID‑19 Food Support: NEF redirected part of its Milan office Christmas budget to fund food parcels for vulnerable residents in Baranzate, ultimately supporting 125 individuals—including 40 children—from nearly 30 nationalities.
• 2024 – Renewable Energy Community (CER): NEF co‑developed and funded the installation of an 83.6 kWp solar PV system on La Rotonda’s community centre. The system now produces clean energy, reduces household electricity costs, and reinvests energy‑sharing revenues to support families experiencing housing‑related hardship.

2026 – New Project: Accademia dei Giorni Straordinari

In 2026, NEF is supporting La Rotonda’s major educational and urban‑regeneration initiative, the Accademia dei Giorni Straordinari. The after‑school programme will move into a newly renovated, neuroscience‑inspired learning centre capable of hosting up to 250 children aged 8–13.

NEF’s contribution focuses on sustainability: funding a 15.5 kWp photovoltaic integrated into the existing Renewable Energy Community. The system will power the centre with clean energy, reduce operational costs, and generate additional revenues to be channelled into a solidarity fund supporting vulnerable families in Baranzate. Through this project, NEF continues to promote an innovative model where clean energy, quality education, and social inclusion reinforce one another.