|
SOMETHING ABOUT WIGWAM®
The first Wigwam® Club was born on 4th December 1972 in Padua (Italy) with the Ecological Wigwam® Community. The original idea was, and still is, to promote projects and activities aimed at improving the quality of the environment, culture, traditions and life in general.
The first projects concerned the active safeguarding of the environment (reforestation camps), ecological agriculture (organic and farm products) and sustainable tourism as a responsible promoter of local development ("agritourism" and trekking).
Over the years we have outlined and codified a precise method of working which the Association continues to divulge and to improve. This is the Wigwam® Club Method, a sort of Quality Circle which, however, projects itself outwards and actively involves all those concerned, either directly or indirectly, in a specific process or product, and which works particularly well with social issues. The most important characteristics of Wigwam® quality are its ethical values and the desire to safeguard and acknowledge the contributions of individuals. The Wigwam® Method is now taught during many training courses as an organisational approach towards continuous growth in the quality of the environment, culture, tourism, food, welfare, . … and life! Currently there are 300 Wigwam® clubs in Italy, counting 80,000 members altogether. Our methods are used in about 15 countries, including Mexico and China. All the active groups are connected together in a network called World Wigwam® Circuit.
Why "Wigwam"? The "Wigwam" is the hut used by the Red Indian tribes who lived in the Great Lakes area of Canada for public meetings, talks and feasts. The reference to Red Indians suggests the sense of a just and balanced relationship with the environment and the need to protect local cultures, this being seen as a single people's contribution to the worldwide patrimony of knowledge and experience. "Wigwam'", the agreed meeting place where discussions are held and decisions are made regarding issues of common interest, allegorically expresses the principle of aggregation as the solution to problems and the conquest of an improved quality of life.
The Wigwam® trademark reproduces the shape of the leaf of the chestnut tree; the tree that has supported entire generations in the mountain and hill territories, both from a nutritional point of view as well as a productive one. The whole tree can be used: the fruit for food, the wood for building and heating, the dried leaves as bedding for animals. The chestnut also represents an important factor in hydro-geological stability. It is an entirely renewable environmental resource.
The most widespread forms of Wigwam® Club currently operating are: Fantasy Clubs (educational play groups), Countryside Clubs (rural tourism), Andyclubs (for the disabled), "Convivio" Clubs (traditional food and drink), Sailing clubs, Business clubs, Holiday Clubs, and many more.
Access to the circuit - meaning that you will be trained and authorized to open a new club - is gained by attending the Basic Wigwam® course. This course is held the last weekend of each month (all day Saturday and half day Sunday) at the Italian head office in Padova - Italy. For further information please e-mail us at -
|
