Inclusion is Fusion!

SOLIDARITY, SOCIAL INCLUSION and NO WASTE – “Raccolta dell’invenduto” “Invenduto” – the non-sold weekly portions of vegetables and fruits thrown away every week in the local markets of Italy – was reborn in 2012, when Associazione Eufemia started collecting it directly from the market sellers, with the involvement of the local community. 3 years later, the project is now known in Torino (Italy) as “Pane in Comune”. Eufemia is working in 3 different markets and involving more than 30 families that meet every Saturday afternoon in the collection of goods, before the closing of the markets. Why is this a sustainable project? “Pane in Comune” puts different aspects together: it aims to decrease local food waste by involving people in need of economical support from the local community. The key is that the different families and individuals take an active role in the process and they manage a big part of it in autonomy. They become managers of a fundamental resource ...

There are not too many project examples that merge the three pillars of the concept of Inclusion is Fusion.  Here is another project that is also aiming at young entrepreneurship, sustainability and social inclusion: PRESET The project “Preset“ strives for long-term future prospects of youth: It is about discovering and reinforcing the potential that especially lies in the field of ecology and development of sustainable projects. Young people shall be empowered and promoted so they are able to build up an independent economical future. The project “Preset“ strives for long-term future prospects of youth: It is about discovering and reinforcing the potential that especially lies in the field of ecology and development of sustainable projects. Young people shall be empowered and promoted so they are able to build up an independent economical future. Side benefits of this initiative are the improvement of transnational relations between participating youth organizat...

The following projects promote employability for youth, social inclusion and sustainability. We regard them as best practice examples: 1.   HOBBYHIMMEL It’s an open workshop, a place where all people can pursue their "craft" interest. Craft, art, repair, recycling, upcycling and much more are part of it. It provides machines, equipment, tools and above all the necessary space, but also provides know-how and assistance. People can exchange, get to know each other and support each other. It lays a special focus on alternative consumption, community building and a sharing economy. 2. BUNTGUT Under the label EINZIGWARE®, new textile products are produced in the Caritas region of Schwarzwald-Alb-Donau from old, no-longer-used textiles. The upcycling initiative also includes refugees and people who have no occupation. It has become a best practice model for community building through reusing discarded te...

Upcycling Waste is the result of non-sustainable modes of production and consumption. Society is now forced to find new ways to combat waste, climate change, and further consequences of non-ecological living. Upcycling is the process of converting material no longer needed into something useful. It has become a simple and innovative concept in the area of waste management that needs more recognition from society.  In this context, upcycling can be a solution to make a change. The project StartUpcycling trains young and disadvantaged citizens to regard waste as a resource for creative upcycling production and start-up ideas. There is a high potential for more jobs in the field of sorting materials and creating goods to re-enter the economy. Background  When related to social innovation and entrepreneurship, the notion of sustainability must be conceptualized in a new way to be meaningful. Banerjee (2011) defines sustainability along three integrated dimensi...

Thinking about welcoming refugees into our societies and supporting them in finding a green job, we mustn't forget the conditions of many refugees who can not afford or manage to leave their region of conflict. The UN Refugee Agency aims at supporting refugees and conflict zones in preserving the environment and habitat. Environmental problems are all over the world. However, the problmes we are facing are very different compared to the countries in crisis. According to the UNHCR the following concerns must be taken into account: "Among the most significant problems associated with refugee-affected areas are deforestation, soil erosion, and depletion and pollution of water resources. Other considerations which must be taken into account include changes in the social and economic welfare of local communities following the arrival, or during prolonged residency, of refugees. These too may impact the environment, altering the rate and extent of local services available ...