FOOD FOR THOUGHT ?
Our project, co-financed by Erasmus +, is taking place in three European countries: Austria with Active, France with CISCA and Italy with Ergon. Our aim is to find local solutions to a common problem: food security. The European scale is really interesting to see how things are going in other countries, and if solutions exist elsewhere. The exchange between three associations in different countries could provide clues to shared problems.
The process
Investigation phase
Starting with a local survey, we (the three associations) conduct a survey to understand what the situation is. We use an interview guide with various players involved in the food system, from consumers to farmers to distributors.
Prototyping phase
After the survey, we begin working with the volunteers. The survey phase is intended to help volunteers develop projects. The results of this survey will help the young participants create projects. Based on the survey, they will be able to identify the real needs of the community and develop project ideas during a week of co-creation in France. Five volunteers per country gathered in Clermont-Ferrand during the first quarter of 2025. (photo 1)
During the week, they attended training sessions on ‘food security’ (the main theme), but also to improve their skills in group work and learn how to define and present a project based on the survey. (photos 2, 3 and 4)
The week was also an opportunity to have fun and discover the local culture by exploring the Auvergne countryside (photo 5) and traditional French cuisine (photos 6, 7 and 8).
The aim was to come up with at least two project ideas per country to address local issues in Vienna, Turin or Clermont-Ferrand. By presenting their projects, the young people helped each other (photos 9, 10 and 11) to strengthen the projects.
Evaluation phase
The week in Vienna was an opportunity to learn about the progress of other projects and to experiment with a model based on design thinking. These models, supplemented by the volunteers, will form the ‘Food for Thought’ toolbox. Volunteers from the three countries were able to discuss their difficulties, share their experiences and provide mutual support in carrying out their projects. They worked together and in national teams. At the end of the week, the toolbox was completed with the volunteers’ projects. The volunteers were able to present their projects with the new knowledges they had gained. They left the week with more matures projects.
Our partnership
Associazione Ergon a favore dei sordi. Founded in 2010, the Association supports young adults from the Istituto dei Sordi di Torino in developing entrepreneurial skills and integrating into the workforce. It collaborates with the school to manage facilities like the cantina and cafeteria and reintroduces unused assets (farmland and rooms) into economic use. The focus includes digital growth and integrating innovative technologies into traditional activities. The association addresses dual discrimination, working with youth facing multiple challenges, such as disabled and migrant individuals, women, and unemployed persons. Services include job placement, vocational training, IT courses for the Deaf, accessible ICT design, and cultural inclusion projects. It also partners with universities, offers translation and interpretation services, and provides counseling for public employment services. Its initiatives focus on Rights, Livelihoods, Technology Access, and Well-being, with programs that are Deaf-led and unique.
The « Food for Thought » project is crucial for the Ergon Association as it promotes food security while empowering young adults with disabilities, fostering entrepreneurship, and reducing inequality. By utilizing unused resources and offering vocational training in areas like cooking and farming, it enhances self-sufficiency, encourages community integration, and supports sustainable practices. This initiative aligns with Ergon’s commitment to social inclusion, technological innovation, and creating pathways to work for those facing multiple challenges, including disability, migration, and unemployment. It ensures food access while fostering personal growth, independence, and well-being for marginalized individuals.
Coming soon …
Cisca is a French association. CISCA stands for Centre d’innovation sociale de Clermont Auvergne. We use participatory action research to support projects and stakeholders in their territory aspirations. We carry out research with them, linking academic knowledge with experiential knowledge. We do a lot of work on food issues with our members and at regional level.
We take part in Food for Thought, to encourage young people to take an interest in food safety issues and find local solutions. We’re taking our expertise in participatory projects to a new, European level. We are coordinating the project and working with Ergon and Active to help young people create and implement food security projects.