Scampia – This is How We Live

Scampia, a district on the outskirts of Naples, is known for its difficult living conditions, poverty, and social challenges. Olivier Pellegrino’s documentary “Scampia, This is How We Live” offers an intimate look at the lives of its residents, highlighting their resilience and solidarity amid adversity. The district suffers from poor housing, scarce employment, and governmental neglect, which force the community to survive through mutual aid and collaboration. Central to the film are the children and youth, who find refuge and identity through educational and cultural associations that provide safe spaces to escape marginalization. The documentary emphasizes the importance of identity formation as a way to resist the lure of organized crime by offering positive alternatives through education and support. Pellegrino, a Geneva-born special education teacher and photographer, combines his skills to create socially meaningful visual stories. His work humanizes Scampia’s residents, especially its youth, fostering empathy and challenging stereotypes. This film serves as a social document, an artistic project, and an educational tool that calls for awareness, dialogue, and action on urban neglect and youth empowerment worldwide.