The project, called in its extended form ‘ SEEDS - Sowing NEETs' protagonism towards green transition’ is a project coordinated by Salesians for Social and financed by the Villum Fonden ‘European Vocational Education and Training Initiative’ 2024.
It involves 540 young people aged between 15 and 29, at least 40% of whom are classified as NEET (Not working and not studying), in conditions of social, economic or educational vulnerability. The activities take place in Apulia (Bari, Cerignola) and Sicily (Palermo, Catania), regions marked by youth unemployment, the “caporalato” phenomenon and climate change.
The partnership includes the Puglia and Sicily regional detachments of CNOS-FAP (Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane - Formazione e Aggiornamento Professionale - National Centre for Salesian Works - Formation and Professional Updating), the University of Palermo and the University of Foggia, and Third Sector bodies such as ‘Centro Orizzonte Lavoro’, ‘A Braccia Aperte’ and ‘Don Bosco 2000’.
‘We left from Palermo, Camporeale, Villarosa and Catania, and then continued in the first days of July in Puglia, between Bari, Cerignola and Foggia. These trips were valuable opportunities to meet and listen to organisations, universities, companies, and Third Sector realities,’ the project leaders said.
The first meetings made it possible in concrete terms to start building training courses focused on green transition, labour inclusion of young people not working and not studying and the sustainable appreciation of common goods, including goods confiscated from organised crime.
In Palermo, together with CNOS-FAP Sicily and the University of Palermo, Salesians for Social has begun designing the first short courses in the fields of sustainable agriculture and ethical catering. With the support of the “A Braccia Aperte” NGO, it met with local companies ready to host apprenticeships and internships for the young participants.
In Villarosa, a visit to a confiscated property managed by the Don Bosco 2000 NGO recalled how legality can become a space for rebirth and formation.
In Catania, the Salesian team strengthened the network with the Orizzonte Lavoro Centre and the local Salesian Vocational Formation Centre, working on educational co-planning.
In Apulia, at the ‘Redentore’ work in Bari, together with CNOS-FAP Apulia, the next training stages were shared.
In Cerignola, a visit to the “Pietra di Scarto” cooperative showed concretely how agriculture, work and social justice can walk together.
Finally, in Foggia, the dialogue with the Departments of Humanities and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Foggia initiated a strategic collaboration for the development of innovative teaching modules.
This first phase of the project spelled out a clear message: in order to generate a future, we need to invest in the motivation of young people, in the quality of formation, and in the network between educators, companies and institutions. SEEDS wants to be just that.
‘Our commitment is to transform the themes of ecological transition into real and spendable skills, following the European Farm to Fork strategy, which involves every stage of the food chain, from production to conscious consumption,’ the project's curators said. Through workshops, internships, constant accompaniment, and educational alliances, they aim to build a path that can respond to the social, environmental, and economic challenges of the territories of Southern Italy.
