The "We are Arbëreshë" project, financed by the POR FESR Basilicata 2014-2020, aims to define all the necessary steps for the activation of exchange chains between the "communities" of the "Arbëreshë" speaking communities, characterized by a pronounced heritage historical and cultural and "communities" and/or national and international institutions (universities, study centers, etc.) that have played an important role in the history of the southern Italian basin and the Euro-Mediterranean basin.

The promotion of the journey to discover Arbëreshë places and culture is presented as a functional tool for activating the necessary relationships, scientifically supported by the analysis of historical-cultural influences, which can represent an engine for the development of economic growth found in the element cultural an added value, in which to invest jointly.

Objektivat e përgjithshme të projektit synojnë të identifikojnë dhe eksperimentojnë forma të reja bashkëpunimi përmes zinxhirit të shkëmbimeve të komunitetit në nivel lokal, kombëtar dhe evropian, me synimin për zhvillimin e teknologjive dhe mënyrave të reja të menaxhimit që mundësojnë një qasje të re dhe të integruar në çështjet e trashëgimisë kulturore dhe qëndrueshmërisë, me synimin e rimekembjes të zonave të brendshme dhe të pakicave etnike dhe gjuhësore që jetojnë në këto territore, duke shfrytëzuar potencialin e madh që përfaqëson pasuria e trashëgimisë së saj kulturore dhe peizazhore.

The realization of the project requires a strong involvement of the local dimension, in the sense of the systematic integrity of the territory as a cooperative ability of institutions, businesses, citizens, research entities, etc., whose aggregation can lead to the definition of joint strategies.

It is undoubtedly an important impact for the territory that this exchange chain can promote initiatives that lead to the development of pilot projects aimed, for example, at the development of a certain urban or rural territory, and in particular:

• Actions for international collaborations to establish contacts with local excellence
• Actions to promote and sell the products and services created, through the identification of foreign distributors and/or potential markets
• Organization of seminars, conferences, opportunities for meetings and promotion and cultural exchanges between communities that share the same roots at the international level.

This intervention is part of the process of cultural heritage valorisation with the drafting of the Project Proposal (PP) called: WAA "WE ARE Arbëreshë" - EXCHANGE BETWEEN "COUNTRY COMMUNITIES" AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL "CULTURAL IDENTITIES" - CULTURAL COMMUNITY. NETWORKS OF INTEGRATION AMONG ALBANIAN-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES CHARACTERIZED BY LACK OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.

"We are Arbëreshë" was created with the aim of strengthening the identity of the "Arbëreshë" linguistic minorities through the identification and experimentation of new forms of cooperation through the chain of community exchanges at the local, national and European level, with the aim of developing technologies and new ways of management that enable a new and integrated approach to cultural heritage and sustainability issues, with the aim of rehabilitating the interior areas and the ethnic and linguistic minorities living in these territories, exploiting the great potential that the wealth represents of its cultural and landscape heritage.

The project, a candidate in the public announcement for the selection of interregional and transnational cooperation projects (in accordance with Article 96.3.d of Regulation (EU) No. 1303/2013), has been financed with the funds of the Regional Operational Program of the European Fund for Regional Development ( POR FESR) of Basilicata 2014-2020 - AXIS 5 - "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES" (OSS6) - O.S.6.7 - "Improving the conditions and standards of the offer and use of cultural heritage, in the attraction areas" / Priority of investments - 6c / O.S.6.8 - "Competitive repositioning of tourist destinations" / Priority of investments - 6c and affects the following intervention sectors:

• 091 Development and promotion of the tourist potential of natural areas
• 092 Protection, development and promotion of public tourist resources
• 093 Development and promotion of public tourist services
• 094 Protection, development and promotion of public cultural heritage

In the implementation of the intervention, it will start from the local dimension, where the basic theme is represented by the ability of the systemic integrity of the territory, businesses, research, and so on, to reach the definition of common strategies.

It is undoubtedly an important impact for the territory that this exchange chain can promote initiatives that lead to the development of pilot projects aimed, for example, at the development of a certain urban or rural territory, and in particular:

1. Actions for international collaborations to establish contacts with local excellence
2. Actions to promote and sell the products and services created, through the identification of foreign distributors and/or potential markets
3. Organization of seminars, conferences, opportunities for meetings and promotion and cultural exchanges between communities that share the same roots at the international level..

The project was developed in 4 macro-actions corresponding to the WPs of the Project:

WP1 – Archeolandscape "recovery, conservation and use of cultural assets and museums" has as a specific object the application of the heritage of movable cultural assets, around which the problems of recovery, restoration, preservation and use have found answers thanks to the creation of an Interactive Map with visible consequences in terms of products and technologies, services and access to cultural activities;

WP2 – Authentic minorities the revitalization of human heritage and landscape in the narrow sense as the object of application of sustainable territories, and in a broader sense as the sustainability of historical territories, with different degrees of urban and rural density, urban and landscape heritage, preserved, also on the basis of culture and creative industry, according to the logic of sustainability not only economic, but also social and environmental, including religious traditions.

WP3 – “We are Arbëreshë Social Museum - Cultural heritage and ICTwhich includes the entire cultural chain, from the knowledge of territory management by developing new ways of providing information that allow the distribution of identity elements and local heritage through digital means and internet network. In general, the adoption of digital tools by a cultural project based on the identity element of a community enables:

• • Increasing the ability to reach the public, increasing influence and importance
  • Creating new "ambassadors" and supporting new initiatives
  • Personalization of interaction with the public
  • Encouraging and growing communities with a critical mass of culturally and scientifically active participants
  • Changing the communication model from "one to one" to "many to many"
  • Creating shared information with visitors
  • The connection of marketing and local cultural and traditional services
  • Maximization of economic income.

WP4 – “Taste Arbëreshë” valorisation of the enogastronomic heritage and historical forms of food cultivation in the territories. Landscapes that can be discovered with an alternative mobility system, enjoying on foot, dedicated routes, etc. The intervention aims to create a catalogue of European Arbëreshë enogastronomic products.