MIlano, It is a city that never sleeps and, with the frenetic rhythm of the evenings, It offers a life that seems to have no breaks. However, living in such a lively metropolis can involve challenges, especially when it’s about feeling safe when you are out at night. And it is here that he enters the scene “Custadae”a service designed to accompany people at home, returning them the opportunity to live the city without fear.
“Custadae”: a new face of urban security
To invent it, though, It was not the Municipality or another institutionbut a normal citizen: His name is Flavio Perrone And the idea of making a concrete contribution to the city in this sense arose after a simple conversation with friends, during which a girl had expressed the discomfort of having anyone who took her home late. That episode, which represented and represents a reality shared by many people, especially women, gave birth to “Custadae”, a project that also aims to fill a void, allowing you to live the city even in the evening and at night without fear.
How the service works
“Custadae” It is a non -profit volunteer organizationmanaged by Perrone and a team of fifteen volunteers. The service can be requested through the website And it operates from 19 to 1 at night, during the week, and until 3 or 4 in the morning on the weekends. The accompaniments take place on foot, by car or public transportup to the door of the house or the place of destination, guaranteeing protection and tranquility. To take advantage of the service, only a small reimbursement of fuel or insurance expenses is required, in case of movement by car. Custadae does not only cover the city of Milanbut also the neighboring municipalities of the hinterland, extending its safety network to the entire metropolitan area.
The training of volunteers: security and recognition
All volunteers are subjected to a training course from certified instructors and are insured for any eventuality. To be easily recognizable, they wear a jacket with the organization logo, depicting a symbol eyeor. Often, this simple visible presence is sufficient to discourage any attackers, creating a protected environment for those who entrust themselves to the service.
Viola: virtual support for those who are afraid
Custadae is not the only project which aims at urban security. The Viola appfor example, founded by the psychologist Laura de Dilectis, offers electronic support through video calls. Designed to accompany virtually those who feel insecure during movements, The service is active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thanks to Womenxstrada, Association of which Viola is partthe app allows you to reduce the feeling of fear of 90%.
A sad primacy of Milan
Milan, in addition to being a lively and dynamic city, unfortunately has another record, much sadder: the city, in fact, according to the data of the Ministry of the Interior analyzed by the Sole 24 Ore, leads the ranking of Italian cities with the highest crime rate. In 2024 7,093 reports were recorded every 100,000 inhabitants, with thefts and robberies among the most frequent crimes. Not that the Lombard capital is alone, on the contrary. Rome and Florence follow their wheelwith respectively 6,071 and 5,000 complaints every 100,000 inhabitants, showing how almost all large Italian cities deal with similar challenges in terms of urban safety.
Initiatives that make the difference
Projects like Custadae and Viola they are really very important and show that, Even in complex contexts like Milan, there are many things that can be implemented. The courage and determination of local initiatives, in fact, contribute not only to improving perceived security, but also to create a sense of community. With the hope that, one day, services like these are more supported by the institutions, but above all, they become less and less necessary.
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