Food can tell the story of a place better than many speeches. It speaks about land, work, family knowledge, local economies and the way communities take care of their resources. This idea guided the Youth Exchange Social Enterprise & Natural Capital: An Opportunity for Young People and Local Communities, held in Tornareccio, Italy, from 20 to 29 October 2025.
The project was realised within the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission and the Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù, with the support of the Abruzzo Institute for Protected Areas. It was part of a three-year educational and experiential path focused on the connection between social entrepreneurship, natural capital and youth participation. The wider process involved young people, youth workers, local communities and organisations from several European countries, with the aim of developing sustainable economic and social opportunities in rural areas and territories connected to protected areas.
This Youth Exchange represented the fourth and final international activity of the project, after previous activities in Abruzzo and Belgium. It brought the process back to Tornareccio, where the first study visit had taken place. The activity focused on food as a bridge between natural capital and social enterprise, exploring how production, preparation and sharing can support community education, active citizenship and sustainable local development. Participants came from six countries: Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Slovakia and Romania.
Tornareccio offered an ideal setting for this work. The village is known for its landscapes, mosaics, rural heritage and strong local food culture. During the exchange, participants met local producers who shared their experience and knowledge: Apicoltura Tieri, Caseificio Iannone, Microbirrificio Dimilù and Gessica Finocchio, a wheat, pasta and olive oil producer. Through visits, practical activities and conversations, the group explored honey production, cheesemaking, craft beer, ancient grains, pasta, olive oil and the relationships between local businesses, sustainable practices and the surrounding environment.
The programme also included direct community experiences. With the support of local residents, participants prepared traditional Abruzzo food and shared it in the main square of Tornareccio. They also organised Merende dal Mondo, an intercultural food activity with children and families from Tornareccio and San Giovanni, where young people presented snacks from their own countries. The group also joined a Clean Up the World action with Legambiente and local students, connecting the theme of food with environmental responsibility.
The final publication gathers the outcomes of the Youth Exchange, including the work of the editorial boards, the stories of the local producers, reflections on food, sustainability and community life, and a creative fanzine that tells the experience from the participants’ point of view. A short documentary was also produced during the project, with interviews, footage from the activities and voices from both participants and the Tornareccio community.
You are invited to download the publication and discover how food, natural capital and social enterprise became tools for learning, connection and community development in Tornareccio.
