What does it take to create real change in a community? For the young people in the network of Generation Europe – The Academy, the answer often lies in a powerful four-step approach: identifying a local need, developing an action plan, securing the support of decision-makers, and successfully implementing the project. The “Soqquadro” initiative in Rome is a perfect example for this: Responding to the lack of an inclusive youth-led space, they took a room in a local youth centre and transformed it into a vibrant cultural hub.
With events like Open Mic nights, a Swap Party, and art exhibitions, they built a new meeting point for young people of all backgrounds. Supported by their youth organisation Meta Cooperativa Sociale Onlus, the story of Soqquadro is a testament to the impact young people can have when they are given the opportunity to take the lead. The local group has documented their journey of turning an idea into a vibrant reality. Here is their report.
Soqquadro: Our Chapter in Generation Europe – The Academy
For our local activities this year, concluding the current phase of Generation Europe – The Academy, we decided to create our own space. We wanted to stay true to the four topics we had chosen during our three-year exchange with our partner groups in Portugal and Germany: gender equality, immigration and integration, sustainability, and, especially, opportunities for youth. We named our project “Soqquadro” – an Italian word for a major shake-up, suggesting a creative jumble – as it captures our goal of turning things upside down and the creative energy that unfolds within it. We felt the need to create a safe space accessible to everyone, especially young adults of all genders and social backgrounds.
Building Soqquadro Together
Meta Società Cooperativa Sociale Onlus, a social cooperative active in supporting minors, young people, elders, people with disabilities, and vulnerable individuals, gave us permission to use their youth centre, Centro Interculturale Scholè. This was the place where we first met as teenagers, and it became the home for Soqquadro to come to life and grow.
It all started during the European Action Week on 8 October 2024, when we hosted an event in our youth centre to present Generation Europe – The Academy to the public. That day, we also had the chance to meet some politicians from our Municipality and present our project to them. On 16 December, we invited three of them (Adriana Rosasco from Social Politics, Fabrizio Grant from Youth Politics, and Marcello Morlacchi, vice president of the Public Works and Viability commission) to discuss our idea further. We proposed hosting three pilot events to test the concept, and they gave us the go-ahead. From that moment on, our group began meeting weekly to draft our project plan for Soqquadro, which we later presented to City Hall and had officially approved.
Bringing Soqquadro To Life
First Event: Open Mic Evening (10 May 2025)
At our first event, we decided to host an Open Mic Evening to give young artists a platform to share their work, connect with peers, share their experiences, and meet new people. We bought food and drinks and organised a big buffet for our guests, inviting them to contribute with a voluntary donation. We prepared the Stage Room and hired a recently graduated sound engineer to help us during the event. We also created an Art Room, where we collected and displayed poems from our group and from other young people who wanted to share their art in a safe space.
Second Event: Swap Party (24 May 2025)
Our second event took place during the Mi-fa-Sol Festival, a choral event that united many associations from our Municipality. For the occasion, Soqquadro hosted a Swap Party. People could come to the Youth Centre, bring items they no longer used, and exchange them for something else, starting with some objects offered by our group members. The goal was to promote the concept of a Circular Economy and Sustainability.
Third Event: Photography Exhibition & Open Mic (7 June 2025)
During the final event of the pilot series, our Art Room hosted a Photography Exhibition featuring works by young adults. Meanwhile, in the Stage Room, people played board games, socialised, and took turns performing at the Open Mic.
Final Reflections
Overall, we had so much fun during the events, but we also understood how difficult group work can be, especially with so little time and so many other obligations, such as university or work. Despite that, we all agree that we built something beautiful. We are grateful to everyone who helped us during our journey and made this dream come true, especially Meta Società Cooperativa Sociale Onlus and the dedicated team at Centro Interculturale Scholè, as well as network and funding programme of Generation Europe – The Academy, that created the necessary framework conditions for our project. Thank you!
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