"Fermenti in Comune": SPICI, alongside Public Administrations, to implement local development actions involving young people

Fermenti in Comune is a programme launched by the ANCI – Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani, and financed by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers - Department for Youth Policies and Universal Civil Service, with the aim of strengthening good practices already initiated by some Italian municipalities and simultaneously encouraging other municipalities to identify the social needs of the community, promoting and supporting local development solutions and actions through the direct involvement of young people.

In strong continuity with the "Fermenti" initiative, the programme aims to support innovative ideas of young people and youth associations, capable of effectively responding to the five "social challenges" identified as priorities for communities - Equality for all genders; Inclusion and participation; Education and culture; Spaces, environment and territory; Autonomy, welfare, well-being and health - promoting targeted actions for development, revitalisation and innovation of local communities.

SPICI has supported various municipalities, youth associations and other local entities in the development of projects characterised by co-design and capacity building paths aimed at young people, as well as entrepreneurial and digital training programmes with high added value, with the objective of contributing to the emergence of social and digital innovation projects, strengthening the entrepreneurial skills of young people, and fostering the creation and growth of groups interested in the development of innovative entrepreneurial ideas aimed at enhancing the heritage of the area.

SPICI has been chosen by several Municipal Entities as a technical structure for the implementation of project activities and in support of them offers services of:

• Support and guidance to third sector entities, businesses, and youth teams interested in developing social innovation projects and realising their project idea in their home municipality;

• Entrepreneurial and digital training aimed at young people interested in developing social innovation project ideas within the municipality, to broaden managerial and digital skills, increasing the chances of success of their entrepreneurial ideas, through a true "injection of digital and entrepreneurial culture";

• One-to-one tutoring to support young people in the realisation of their project, in order to provide tools and opportunities to the selected teams to be born, grow and operate in a solid and sustainable way.