According to the most recent ISTAT data and the Domani (Im)possibili research conducted by Save The Children, educational poverty in Italy is spiralling, a phenomenon that hits the most vulnerable communities hard and fuels a vicious circle of marginality, exclusion and inaction. In areas such as Casapesenna and Palermo, where the shadows of organised crime and economic barriers are intertwined with a widespread sense of powerlessness, young people are often trapped in narratives that portray them as passive spectators of social decay.
‘YouthLense – A kaleidoscope to change your vision’ stems from the urgent need to break these invisible chains, giving young people back the ability to rewrite their own stories, to claim the space they deserve in society, to transform themselves from marginal subjects into protagonists of change. This project aims to activate the young people of Casapesenna and Palermo, two territories emblematic for their social vulnerability, as driving forces of regeneration, challenging the dominant narratives that suffocate their potential
Imagine a kaleidoscope, where images change with every movement, fragmenting and reconstituting themselves into new shapes. In the same way, ‘YouthLense’ wants to offer young people a new instrument of observation: a kaleidoscope that allows them to see their territories with different eyes, revealing the hidden nuances of their potential.
Through the project, young people will be guided on a path of growth through critical awareness, development of digital skills and rediscovery of collective power, with the aim of transforming their perception of themselves and their community.
The objectives of the project are clear and ambitious:
1. Revolutionizing Awareness: Each participant will be taken on an inner and outer journey that will enable them to gain an in-depth understanding of the social, economic and cultural dynamics that characterise their local area. Through the use of participatory methodologies such as ‘Change your glasses’ and ‘PhotoVoices’, young people will begin to see beyond appearances, deconstruct the narratives that imprison them and imagine new scenarios of legality and inclusion.
2. Equipping for change: ‘YouthLense’ does not stop at theory. The project will provide participants with practical skills to promote legality and counter the negative influences that pervade their environments. Through training in digital activism, young people will learn to use media as platforms to amplify their voices, to tell stories of redemption and to build campaigns for social change that challenge the status quo.
3. Triggering a social transformation: The project will culminate in a series of local campaigns in which young people will become real agents of change. From the streets of Casapesenna to the squares of Palermo, their counter-narrative initiatives will resonate in the territories, stimulating dialogues and mobilising communities towards a new collective awareness.
The final event in Palermo will not only be a celebration of the achievements but also a true starting point for lasting transformation, which will continue to resonate even after the project’s conclusion.
– 200 young people directly involved in the activities.
– 30 participants for each of the local events in Casapesenna and Palermo.
– 20 young people selected for the training residencies.
– 100 participants in the online event to refine strategies and recommendations.
– 40 participants in the final mobility event in Palermo, where campaigns and visions for a better future will be shared.
The change we envision goes beyond statistics. This project aims to ignite an inner transformation in young people—a shift in perception that cannot simply be measured in numbers but in the ability to inspire, create, and influence. Young people will gain the courage to see reality with fresh eyes, recognizing the hidden potential behind challenges. The dominant narrative will be overturned: the young people of Casapesenna and Palermo will no longer be seen as victims of a system but as leaders of a new era of civil and cultural rebirth.
1. Awareness: Young people will be more aware of the challenges around them and will be able to face them with newfound clarity.
2. Skills: They will be equipped with practical tools to analyze and transform the negative narrative surrounding them, using digital media effectively.
3. Activism: Through the mindful use of social media, they will amplify their stories and create new initiatives for social change.
4. Community: The events and campaigns will strengthen the sense of belonging and responsibility toward the community, fostering real and tangible civic engagement.
5. Change of Perception: External communities will see young people in a new light, as vital resources for the future rather than problems to be solved..
“YouthLense” is not just a project: it is a journey of rediscovery, a path through which young people will finally be able to look at the world and themselves with new eyes, transforming their vision into action and sparking a change that will last over time.
01/09/2024 - 31/12/2025
16 months
Palermo and Casapesenna
Young people aged 16 to 25
KA154-YOU - Youth participation activities
Updates on the ongoing project and dissemination activities.
