Silvia Decina & Pawsitive Parks
- Esai En Roi
- Dec 12, 2025
- 2 min read
The project Skyrthalia vol. II – Pawsitive Parks will take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 3 to 22 December 2025. It is implemented as a 20-day volunteering in teams project under the framework of the activity “Be Sustainable, Sportive and Cultural” (compact action). Thessaloniki's stray animal crisis is pervasive, driven by low sterilization rates, limited funding, health risks from disease and parasites, and societal neglect or abuse. Despite commendable efforts from volunteers and animal welfare organizations, the scale of the issue demands comprehensive, coordinated action—including expanded neutering initiatives, stronger legal enforcement, increased municipal support, public education, and institutional resources. The project focuses on two main priorities: (1) Green practices for sustainable urban environments and (2) Protection, care, and support of pets’ quality of life in the city.
Short CV
Silvia Decina is an Italian anthropologist specializing in urban and migration anthropology. She graduated with highest honors (110 cum laude) from both a Bachelor of Arts in Modern
Literature (Sapienza University of Rome) and a Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology (University of Turin). She participated in several Erasmus exchange programs, including an ethnographic research internship at the CRIA in Lisbon, a study exchange at Lusíada University, and a BIP program in Romania. She has a diverse background: teaching Italian as a second language, working as a tour guide, bookseller, library assistant, university lecturer, and editor. Deeply committed to social causes, she has participated in numerous volunteer projects in Italy and abroad, notably with Hellenic Youth Participation in Athens. She also pursues artistic endeavors, having directed several documentaries, including "Atlas corporal de cidades imaginarias" (Corporal Atlas of Imaginary Cities), which was selected for the Ciclope Festival. She is fluent in Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Her skills include social media management, Microsoft Office, and basic video editing. She holds a category B driving license
Motivation Letter
My interest in social work began with a volunteer project in Greece in 2022, which shaped me to such an extent that it defined my future path. I attended a master's course in cultural anthropology at the University of Turin while also being involved in political activities in a housing occupation in the city, where I carried a lot of social activities. I would like to work in a similar context and acquire more conscious tools and methods, as I have always worked in self-managed contexts. I would like to take a practical approach to social issues related to sustainability and environmental sciences as a form of political resistance and an opportunity for social change and conscious co-living with other living beings, in line with my experiences and studies.
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