The little village of Riace in Italy’s poor southern region of Calabria has seen many of its former residents leave in search of better opportunities elsewhere.
But the mayor Domenico Lucano has found a way to breathe new life into what was a dying village - he has introduced a scheme to encourage immigrants to come and settle there.
22 Nov 2013 . RIACE, ITALY. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Italy’s population has been ageing for decades, with Italians living longer and having fewer babies.
But the country has also become a magnet for migrants hoping to start a new life in Europe; migrant boat arrivals in Italy from North Africa surged last year to more than 40,000, almost four times as many as in 2012.
To help pay the pensions of an ageing population and to ensure long-term growth, Italy needs to integrate its immigrant population into the workforce, economists say.
But high unemployment, especially among non-student young people, has fuelled anti-immigrant sentiment among the Italian mostly-white population.
23 Nov 2013 . RIACE, ITALY. REUTERS/Max Rossi
However, mayor Domenico Lucano (pictured above) has encouraged migrants to come and make their homes in Riace.
New arrivals have been given support and places to live - and they in turn have helped to reinvigorate the village.
22 Nov 2013 . RIACE, ITALY. REUTERS/Max Rossi
The children of Riace’s migrant residents have revitalised the local school, which suffered from a lack of students. A drawing stuck to a classroom door shows pupils taught there today.
21 Nov 2013 . RIACE, ITALY. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Riace’s mayor has also introduced tokens as a local currency in the village. The notes feature famous figures from Martin Luther King to Nelson Mandela.