Komuna Incontro originally started in Italy as a group of rehabilitation centers for outcasts and substance abusers who decided to change their lives through work, patience and perseverance. With no help from medication nor psychoanalysis those who embark on this journey do so when all other options have failed.
Komuna Incontro counts with great reputation within Slovenia, where the program was first introduced in 1993. The government and Caritas NGO take care of upholding the program but it was Don Pierino, an italian renowned priest with strong ties to italian politics, who designed it during the 70s. The base of this rehab is self reflection, eliminating the distractions of the modern world that block one´s sight of inner struggles and capabilities.
This photo essay shows the life of the residents at the Komuna in Čadrg. They are battling with issues such as alcoholism, drug abuse and gambling addiction. All those are known routes to evade the real world. Vessels to transport them to new realities where they don´t need to face the consequences of their actions or the cards dealt by life. Each one lives a slow recovery path from their inner battles, like the breaking of family bonds, inability to create lasting relationships or a lack of self esteem to mention some examples.
Daily work exhausts body and mind, be it cleaning the forest of dry debris, feeding the livestock, helping in neighboring fields, or simply cleaning the center if the weather conditions do not allow for outdoor activities. Rest is also a key point for their recovery, but it is oriented towards a meditating time to look inside themselves and reflect on the changes that are happening. Distractions such as smartphones or access to the internet are not allowed and music or television are restricted to Sundays. Once this self reflecting has had time to develop they must share it with the group, each step in the right direction is a collective effort. The group factor consolidates the lessons they learn from others or from themselves, listening is greatly encouraged. After all they share a house, their food, and past experiences most of all, so the objective is to share the progress as well.
The whole process depends solely on their autonomy and self control.
The veterans will take care of the new ones, and the new ones will be the reminder for the veterans of where not to go back. Two years enclosed in a system such as this can make the outer world seem scary, the residents say that the two year mark only seems big and unattainable for a short period at the beginning, but when the program is coming to an end and you have to face the huge change to your lifestyle again you are filled both with excitement and fear.
“You must protect what you take from Komuna with you, and cherish it in order not to lose it.” They say.
It is not a system without its flaws, and the success rate, as with every other program, is not 100%. But these young men take on a hard mission of rebuilding their lives through the realization that modern life not only can push you towards the typical addictions shown on the media but also that all of us as a collective are addicted to elements designed to connect us that end up breaking us apart.
It is through brotherhood and companionship that the changes can start to happen.
