National implementation in Italy by CESIE EST

As part of the launch, Capacity Building for Adult Education Professionals was delivered over 2 sessions, totalling 16 hours. This training provided educators with the tools and methods necessary to engage adult learners in a variety of topics related to sustainability, social engagement, and personal empowerment. Participants shared their feedback:

💬 “Very interesting and with a lot of material. I will definitely deepen the content to suit the target group I usually work with.”

💬 “I think there is a great variety of relevant content, but I think at first glance it needs to be revised and readjusted further.”

The Citizens Xelerator Action Labs were designed to engage local citizens in hands-on, practical activities aimed at improving their communities. The Action Labs were composed of:

• 2 “Think Tank Brainstorming” sessions with 31 participants, resulting in 2 actionable ideas that were ready to be put into practice.
• 5 “Create Your Action” activities, where participants had the opportunity to design and implement community-driven projects. The implemented actions included:
  1. Choir of Seniors in association Auser Ciminna
  2. Two sessions of Green Fashion
  3. Two sessions of Dance Therapy

The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive:

💬 “Knowing that we can choose what we need was nice.”

💬 “Being able to choose what was best for us was unique.”

💬 “It was incredible to know that an idea we had had for a long time, but without funding and without a strategy to implement it, finally became reality thanks to CESIE and the project.”

💬 “Seeing first through the sustainability training and then assessing the impact of our lives through the action/workshop on green fashion with the trainer was very exciting. It made me question my own life choices and those of my children that we make without thinking every day.”

• The Citizens Xelerator Days were an essential part of this initiative, providing participants with the chance to reflect on their role as citizens and the importance of collective action. The first Citizens Xelerator Day took place before the European Elections, and the second celebrated International Democracy Day, engaging 72 participants in discussions about democratic participation and citizenship.

💬 “To have had the opportunity to stop and reflect on the importance that our daily actions as citizens have and how these can change the impact at a societal level was very inspiring. I participated in the first event before the European elections and then in the second for International Democracy Day. Taking time collectively to discuss and understand what we want to do as citizens is precious time that has been invested.” 

• In addition, 9 Microlearning initiatives were carried out, reaching 115 participants. These sessions offered accessible, bite-sized learning experiences on topics essential for personal and community development. The topics covered included:

1. Social Empathy
2. Career Guidance
3. Financial Literacy
4. Media Literacy
5. Sustainability Literacy (2 sessions)
6. Health Literacy

These microlearning sessions were a great way for participants to quickly absorb key knowledge and immediately apply it in their personal and professional lives.

• The LifeComp Cards, used across multiple activities, helped 24 participants build important life competencies. One participant shared their reflection on the experience:

💬 “This project has had a very strong human impact on me personally. I have had the good fortune to see these people grow a little and gradually become more aware of themselves and what they want. Of course, there have been many difficulties, and there are many due to the social context in which they live and their psychological condition, but to know that I have contributed, even if only for a little while, to their personal empowerment is priceless to me.”

The Citizens Xelerator Pilot Action in Italy has already proven to be an incredible success, impacting both the individual participants and the broader community. From empowering educators to fostering local actions through brainstorming and workshops, the project has sparked positive changes that will continue to benefit the community in the long term.