Danilo Dolci

Danilo Dolci, known as the “Gandhi of Sicily,” was an Italian human rights activist and author who employed Gandhi’s nonviolent methods to challenge social injustice in Sicily’s impoverished communities. He introduced the reverse strike, engaging unpaid workers to enhance local infrastructure, circumventing government and Mafia control. Dolci’s early experiences included joining a Tuscany commune to aid orphans and opposing Nazi rule during WWII. At 28, he moved to rural Sicily, learned the local dialect, and began documenting the plight of local families and their treatment by authorities.

His activism, which included hunger strikes and protests, prompted government action, resulting in significant improvements like pharmacies, paved roads, and sewage systems. An influential writer, Dolci authored over 50 books and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 and 1982 for his activism, notably advocating for the transfer of water rights from the Mafia to local farmers.