Inclusive Youth Information Award category

WHOLE PEOPLE – Engagement experiences for adolescents and young people in the north-west area of Turin

Title of the Project

WHOLE PEOPLE - Engagement experiences for adolescents and young people in the north-west area of Turin

Organisation

Volontariato Torino ETS

WEBSITE

https://volontariatotorino.it/

Project link

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1MCtJhWrGJlNQSXdCFM21qAikFNRPXGBG

https://volontariatotorino.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Quello-che-ce-qui_Catalogo-ETS-Whole-People.pdf

Project dates

2024-05-01

2025-12-31

What is it about?

In the north-western neighbourhoods of Turin, the Whole People project has transformed urban suburbs into places rich in opportunities for young people. Led by D.O.C. s.c.s. in collaboration with Volontariato Torino (Volunteer Support Centre of Turin, which offers services to third sector organisations and is also a Eurodesk Multiplier) and other key stakeholders, the initiative is part of the City of Turin’s YouToo Integrated Urban Plan. The project aims to support young people in building their future with confidence by creating spaces for meeting, socialising and training, while enhancing the cultural capital of the territories in which they live.

Vol.To implemented activities focused on youth leadership and the design of active participation initiatives. The main target group consisted of adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 30 living in Turin, particularly in districts 4 and 5. Participants included students, young volunteers, children attending local summer camps and 146 third-sector organisations. 

Vol.To promoted volunteering through summer camps and civic education programmes in secondary schools. At the Zerboni Institute, two classes took part in “We are the revolution”, a pathway focused on Art and Art History as tools to reflect on social change, culminating in the creation of a permanent artwork for the school. Another class took part in “ActivActions: the Podcast”, developing a podcast on sport as a space for collaboration, commitment and collective growth.

Through guidance and support actions, 44 young people under 30 were connected with 14 local organisations in districts 4 and 5. Vol.To also mapped youth meeting and training spaces, producing a dedicated catalogue and organising networking meetings.

The project’s methodology is rooted in youth-led participation, empowering young people to become protagonists through peer learning and digital tools, culminating in the annual Zoomer Fest, where they showcase creativity, civic engagement and citizenship.

How is this project relevant to the specific category?

The Whole People project perfectly embodies the category of ‘Inclusive Youth Information’ because it is based on the principle that information must be accessible, proactive, and tailored to those with fewer opportunities. The initiative aligns with this category through three complementary pillars.

First, it addresses information barriers by adopting an outreach-based approach: recognising that the most vulnerable young people rarely access institutional information points, the project deliberately avoided activating a physical desk at Open 011 and instead redirected resources towards direct engagement in technical schools. By bringing Eurodesk-related content directly into the classrooms of the Boselli Institute, the initiative reached a non-captive audience and ensured that information on European mobility opportunities was accessible regardless of students’ socio-economic background.

Secondly, the project promotes radical physical and digital accessibility by specifically addressing the needs of visually impaired young people. Through the neighbourhood Temoteche, specialised workstations and assistive software were made available, affirming that high-quality information should be a right rather than a privilege.

Finally, the initiative is supported by a strong collaborative network based on the synergy between social cooperatives, such as D.O.C., and volunteer and support organisations, including Vol.To. Specifically, the young people involved in the project were those from districts 4 (San Donato, Campidoglio, Parella) and 5 (Borgo Vittoria, Lucento, Madonna di Campagna, Vallette, Ceronda, Nuova Borgata Lanzo) of the city of Turin. These neighbourhoods are characterised by widespread social needs that go beyond simple care, including employment inclusion, housing assistance, support for vulnerable individuals, and socialisation. This integrated partnership enables the provision of holistic guidance, helping young people with fewer opportunities to overcome the psychological, cultural, and logistical barriers that often discourage them from considering international and European mobility experiences.

What was the impact of the project?

By transforming a suburban landscape into a vibrant hub of opportunity, the Whole People project has had a direct impact on the lives of countless young people through a cohesive strategy that began with breaking down the “information barrier” within local technical schools. This path to empowerment took root at the Boselli Institute, where eight specialised courses introduced students to the fundamental values and programmes of the European Union, effectively transforming international mobility from a distant dream into a tangible future for many who had never considered it before. The project implementation continued through a commitment to radical inclusion, embodied by the creation of specialised multimedia “Temoteche” at Open 011, which went beyond simply providing equipment to establish a new social standard in which accessibility to high technology is recognised as a fundamental right. This cultural shift integrated seamlessly with a new model of youth management, particularly at the Zerboni Institute, where students went from being passive observers to active agents of change, designing initiatives that responded to the real needs of the local area. This evolution found its highest expression in the Zoomer Fest, where young people took full ownership of the cultural narrative of their neighbourhood, demonstrating that the project has successfully strengthened the local social fabric by creating a permanent “space for dialogue” where the most vulnerable voices are no longer just participants, but the main leaders in their area.

Did the project have any green focus?

Building on its core mission of social inclusion and youth empowerment, the “Whole People” project has integrated a series of eco-friendly measures to ensure its profound social impact is matched by a responsible ecological footprint. This commitment to sustainability is woven into the very fabric of the project’s operations, starting with a paperless communication strategy that prioritises digital dissemination and social media to eliminate unnecessary waste. During the flagship Zoomer Fest, these values were put into practice through sustainable event management that emphasised waste reduction and the use of recyclable materials for both catering and creative workshops. Furthermore, by using Open 011 – the House of Youth Mobility – as a central hub, the project actively championed green mobility by encouraging participants to rely on public transport and sustainable urban transit.

How did you ensure Eurodesk's visibility in your project?

To ensure Eurodesk’s visibility, we integrated its mission into our core activities. Beyond featuring the Eurodesk logo on materials used at Open 011, we took a proactive approach through the “Europa a TuxTu” sessions. These 8 specialised pathways in local schools served as a direct bridge to Eurodesk’s resources, effectively promoting European mobility to students previously unaware. By embedding Eurodesk’s goals into our youth-led workshops, we made the network a visible and trusted reference point for the entire community. In addition, a Eurodesk social media channel (the Instagram page “eurodesk_torino_vol.to”) was used to promote the project’s activities.

Project highlights

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1MCtJhWrGJlNQSXdCFM21qAikFNRPXGBG

Your project on video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XSlykN8Mmvns-v42btB6j6CaVu1T7uEC/view