WHO WE ARE
The Nuova Associazione Culturale Ulisse (NACU) has been active since November 2019, as the natural continuation of the Associazione Culturale Ulisse, founded in 2003.
Located in the heart of Siena (Via Fontebranda 95), NACU is dedicated to promoting cultural exchange between local citizens and international visitors. The association collaborates with local schools, public institutions, and volunteer organizations such as Misericordia, Le Mura, and UICI.
The association’s roots lie in its long-standing experience with service-learning pedagogy, developed through its partnership with SIS Intercultural Study Abroad. SIS is a pioneering initiative in Italy abd Belgium that combines language study, social volunteering, and active citizenship in a single, experiential learning model.
NACU and its founding organization have participated in numerous European projects, including those funded by the Council of Europe and the Erasmus+ Programme. Among these is the INCREASE Project (Intercultural Competence for Adult Educators), carried out in collaboration with several European countries and focused on enhancing intercultural competences among adult educators.
Educational Innovation: FICCS and EUFICCS
Together with its European partners, NACU developed the innovative FICCS method (Full Immersion: Culture, Content, Service), a language-teaching approach based on learning through example and active participation in the community.
Building on this experience, NACU launched the EUFICCS Project (European Use of Full Immersion, Culture, Content, and Service), aimed at promoting the dissemination of this pedagogical model across various European countries.
The project encouraged cooperation and experimentation on a continental scale, with its academic outcomes published on platforms such as Cambridge Scholars.
Participation in International Networks and Key Projects
Over the years, NACU has built a strong network of international collaborations through continuous involvement in Erasmus+ projects, Council of Europe initiatives, and locally relevant educational and social activities.
In partnership with the University of Siena, the association also participated in the “I Have Rights” project, further strengthening its position as a reliable partner in the fields of intercultural education and active citizenship.
Through these diverse experiences, NACU continues to reinforce its role not only at the local level but also within a European framework, establishing itself as a reference point for educational and training policies focused on integration, intercultural dialogue, and the creation of inclusive communities.
OUR PEOPLE
Andrea Mari, President
Born in Siena, Andrea earned a BA in Literary and Philosophical Studies from the University of Siena. During his undergraduate years, he began his career as a journalist in Siena and obtained his journalist license in 2020. Building on this experience, he pursued an MA in Linguistic and Intercultural Communication at the University for Foreigners of Siena, while simultaneously teaching at SIS. He later expanded his teaching experience by teaching Italian in the United States and the Czech Republic.
Today, Andrea serves as the Academic Outreach Coordinator at SIS, where he also oversees the school’s service-learning projects offered to all students. Over the past three years, he has also been teaching Italian to refugees through the H4TW project at SIS, helping to foster connections between migrants, the local community, and American students.
Michael Manchester, Vice President
Lewis and Clark College: B.A. in Communications. Michael is the Vice-President and a founding member of the Nuova Associazione Culturale Ulisse and coordinates service-learning projects in collaboration with the International Center for Intercultural Exchange and Siena Italian Studies. He has worked as the English Program Coordinator for the Siena public kindergartens for four years as well as interpreter for the AC Siena professional soccer team. Michael is also a founding partner of Nove Culturae Ventures, LLC, based in Avon, New York, which collaborates with the International Center for Intercultural Exchange to organize study experiences in Siena.
Antonio Giorgi, Treasurer
Università degli Studi di Siena: M.A. in Law with specialization in Bankruptcy Law. Antonio spent many years working with Sienese Agricultural Commission and then for the Studio Notarile Coppini, where he specialized in inheritance law. For the International Center he serves as a financial and legal consultant. Antonio currently acts as an administrative consultant for various International Education structures and is also a founding member and Treasurer for the Nuova Associazione Culturale Ulisse.