The Centro di Creazione e Cultura (CCC), our project partner in Florence, has published an impressive video about the commitment of the local group of Generation Europe – The Academy in Tuscany. The video summarises the three most important local activities of the past year and shows how closely the young people work together with other civil society organisations.
Colourful benches and water protection
Together with the informal movement Valdisieve in Transizione and the NGOs Pachamama and Tessere Culture, the local group realised the “Panchine” (benches) project in the municipality of Pontassieve. Under the direction of Martina Bartolini, a group of young artists painted the benches in the town garden of P’Orto based on drawings by students from the local Maria Maltoni secondary school. They presented the result at the P’Orto River Festival. The festival was organised by the artist, filmmaker and community activist Lorenzo Ci: For three days, there were encounters and activities on the topics of protecting, maintaining and enhancing the watercourse. The activists trialled a participatory practice to connect with emotions and feelings from the past and present. They also put on a live performance inspired by the newly designed benches.
Shaping the Transition
Facilitated by the Rinascimento Green association, the Transistor Project is building a national network across many Italian cities. The aim is to accelerate the ecological and social transition of cities, involving everyone and putting the power back into the hands of the citizens. Following an initial joint seminar on 13 July at the Performing Arts Research Centre (PARC) on the topic of transition and marginalisation, a second event was held on 19 October. Finally, a third step took place on 18 December: A public discussion event with four experts on CO2 emissions in the city and priorities for an inclusive transition.
Telling the stories of volunteer work
The third project, Raccontare il volontariato, focused on young people who were already aware of the issues of climate change and sustainable development. The aim was to introduce them to the world of civil society organisations and volunteering. The young people interviewed representatives of ten organisations and associations that deal with environmental issues. From the interviews, they developed articles and took part in the creation and publication of the October issue of the magazine Edera (printed on recycled paper). The final event took place on 22 October at PARC, with a second-hand clothing exchange and a live talk in which all the associations interviewed took part. The project was supported not only by Edera magazine, but also by the Centro Servizi Volontariato Toscana (Cesvot), the Region of Tuscany and the Fondazione CR Firenze.