YouthBank beyond limits in Turin

From the 18th to the 20th of March, a group from Como’s YouthBanks travelled to Turin to explore the network of organisations active in the city and to share the YouthBank model.

The group was composed of five young people, both grant-makers and planners, two practitioners, and Susanna Bosco, YouthBank International Associate for Italy, who shares her reflections on the trip:

Turin is an incredibly rich city when it comes to NGOs and nonprofit organisations, and we were grateful for the opportunity to visit some of them and learn from their work.

During the trip, we visited four of the eight “Neighbourhood Houses” in Turin. These spaces are remarkable examples of social innovation: they are not only community gathering places, but true hubs of active citizenship. Each one is co-designed with local residents and shaped around their needs. These centres offer a wide range of activities, from language courses to daycare, from model boat building to crocheting, making them spaces not only of connection and support, but also of learning. Each Neighbourhood House has its own identity, reflecting the specific needs of its area, while remaining part of a broader network that strengthens their overall impact.

One aspect that particularly impressed us was the presence of affordable food services in all of these spaces, ensuring access to quality food regardless of people’s economic situation.

The four Neighbourhood Houses we visited are:

-Bagni Pubblici di Via Agliè (public baths), managed by the widespread Liberitutti Cooperative, which carries out many local, national, and international projects in a wide range of fields, from migrant reception to the inclusion of people with disabilities in their community. The project that stood out the most to us was Noah’s Arch, an initiative that aims to guarantee equal extracurricular educational opportunities for children and young people aged 7 to 17, cooperating with schools and families to actively include everyone and enhance each individual’s potential.

-Casa nel Parco, with the Mirafiori Foundation, where the RiseUp project was launched. It follows the YouthBank approach, with a group of 7 people under 30 currently drafting their first call for proposals to fund small local projects. They created and distributed a questionnaire to map the needs and aspirations of young people and are now basing their call on those results.

A short walk away, we also visited Spazio WOW, where we saw a recently established aeroponic greenhouse. This system nourishes plants with a fine mist of water and nutrients, saving water and simplifying maintenance. The space also includes raised-bed gardens and beekeeping, providing educational value and fresh produce for the restaurant at Casa nel Parco and for Caritas.

Later, we also met YEPP Italia, which is supporting the Mirafiori Foundation in developing the call for proposals.

-Cascina Roccafranca, a beautiful historic site connected to FIAT’s industrial past. Here, a key issue emerged: youth policy decisions are often made entirely by adults. To address this, the Cascina created a group of young board members who manage a study space, organize events, and have raised €20,000 for their own initiatives.Upon hearing about the YouthBank model, they showed great interest and are thinking of starting one or more YouthBanks of their own.

-Cecchi Point, located in the multicultural Aurora neighbourhood, where we met representatives of the Porta Palazzo Community Foundation, who talked us through some of their impressive projects that deal with complex issues such as housing, integration, and the development of solidarity-based energy communities.

These and many other organizations work closely together as a network and are often supported by the municipality, making Turin an impressive example of an active city that truly involves and cares for its citizens.