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
First 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.
Second phase
We began by meeting people involved locally in the food system, and are currently conducting surveys. These survey results will help the young people involved to create projects. They will be able to draw on the surveys to identify risks or needs to which they can respond. Five young people from each country will meet in Clermont-Ferrand in the first quarter of 2025. So, five young people living in Austria, Italy or France will come together to meet. The aim is to share surveys, ideas and create at least 5 projects to address local issues in Vienna, Turin or Clermont-Ferrand.
Third phase
After this intense week, the youth groups will have a few months to try and implement projects in each country. Each association will support one group and share the results during a final week in Austria..
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.