Arrexinia Sula
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location: Seulo, Sardinia, Italy
Organization(s) Involved: Arrexinia Sula
Contact Person:
Name: Riccardo Murgia
Position: President
Email: riccardomurgia1999@gmail.com
USEFUL LINKS
SUMMARY
Arrexini Asula is a recently founded association in Seulo, Sardinia, Italy, working to create a youth and animal sanctuary and striving to bring people closer to their natural roots. It was founded in April 2024 by Sardinan and Latvian youth workers and local youth of Seulo, who share a deep passion of working with youth, love for animals, and care for nature.
The association is creating and upkeeping an animal sanctuary (a safe place for rescued animals) to let shelter and farm animals have a full and happy life. For now, they are taking care of forteen animals, but they are in the process of providing a home for more and more animals who need shelter.
Arrexini Asula uses the sanctuary as a central approach to engage marginalized youth and adults, including those with neurodivergent traits, challenging backgrounds, and individuals from rural areas. While their primary focus is on these groups, their programs also extend to adults and seniors, particularly in community development and sustainability education.
The sanctuary facilitates accessible educational and recreational activities that promote sustainability and nature conservation through non-formal education, such as animal care, nature expeditions and various workshops. Volunteers and participants gain hands-on experience, learn about environmental stewardship, and expand their scope of empathy towards both animals and people.
Arrexini Asula seeks to build an inclusive, kind, and environmentally conscious youth community by making nature accessible and shifting perspectives to view nature and rural areas as sources of opportunities.
OBJECTIVES
- Create and maintain an animal sanctuary to let rescued animals (especially rescued farm animals) have a full and happy life.
- Strengthen people’s connection to nature and widen their scope of empathy – both towards humans and animals.
- Foster radical social inclusion by inspiring youth, especially those facing challenging circumstances, to reconnect with nature, their roots, and cultivate a sense of authenticity.
- Shift perspectives on rural areas by highlighting them as sources of opportunities.
- Educate about environmental stewardship and promote sustainable, nature-friendly practices and lifestyles.
- Preserve and foster the local culture of Seulo by encouraging intergenerational knowledge exchange between youth and seniors, while building an inclusive, compassionate, and environmentally conscious local youth community.
CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND
In Sardinia, there are both animal sanctuaries and NGOs that work with marginalized youth, but none combine these efforts – working with animals and marginalized youth in their day-to-day operations – the way we do. Our vision is to create a sanctuary that not only provides a safe haven for animals but also promotes a radically inclusive way of life, bringing people and animals together. We believe that interactions with animals can be deeply healing, offering emotional support, fostering empathy, and nurturing a strong connection to nature.
A little bit about our location… Seulo, Sardinia, is a rural area with limited opportunities for young people, often leading them to seek better prospects in metropolitan cities. We aim to challenge that narrative by demonstrating that rural areas can be a source of opportunity – a place where you can pursue your passions and create something meaningful.
IMPLEMENTATION: ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGIES
Our key activities focus on creating and maintaining an animal sanctuary, which involves young people in its daily operations. This hands-on involvement provides them with valuable experience while supporting the sanctuary’s mission.
In addition to managing the sanctuary, we organize nature expeditions where participants can learn about local flora from knowledgeable local seniors. This approach fosters intergenerational learning and deepens participants’ connection to their environment.
We also manage a social media account to showcase our animals and activities. This platform not only highlights our work but also aims to inspire others to consider rural areas as viable spaces for their own initiatives.
Our efforts are supported by a range of partners, including NGOs such as TDM 2000, Associazione Malik, and Nepaliec Viens, whose collaboration has been vital. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Seulo community – the municipality and local residents – whose support has been instrumental in bringing our vision to life.
PROJECT OUTCOMES & LESSONS LEARNED
The main outcome – we have successfully established our sanctuary! While there is still an infinite amount of work ahead, the foundation is firmly in place. Additionally, our main outcomes so far include the creation of a dedicated community of local and international supporters eager to assist with animal care, the establishment of valuable connections with like-minded and potentially impactful partners, and a deeper understanding of ethical animal care practices. As a result of that we are also in the process of launching several new initiatives and are excited about the upcoming projects.
The most important lesson we’ve learned so far, which we needed at this early stage, is the validation and encouragement of our concept. The enthusiastic responses from our visitors and people who hear about our initiative – both young people and adults – demonstrates the potential external value and potential of our project. People’s eagerness to stay longer and the positive feedback we’ve received are a big part behind our current motivation and drive.
IMPACT
Arrexini Asula is already making an impact in Seulo, Sardinia, despite being in its early stages. Our animal sanctuary not only offers a safe haven for rescued animals but also engages local youth in meaningful ways.
By involving marginalized youth and adults in daily sanctuary activities, we help them build skills and confidence while deepening their empathy and connection to nature. Our non-formal educational activities promote sustainability and environmental stewardship, fostering a more inclusive, compassionate and also environmentally aware community.
We are also working on preserving local culture through intergenerational exchanges between youth and seniors, and working to shift perceptions of rural areas from limitations to opportunities. The early feedback has been promising, and we’re excited about the greater impact we’ll be able to make in the future!