Mandorle - Ritorno alla Natura
The project involved 34 participants and one facilitator from five different countries—Cyprus, Italy, Greece, Morocco, and Türkiye—each bringing diverse academic, professional, and linguistic backgrounds to ensure inclusivity and diversification within the group. All participants met the age criteria for Youth Exchanges, except for the team leaders. The central theme of the project revolved around almonds and their deep connection to the local area of Avola, as well as to the Sicilian territory as a whole.
At the beginning of the exchange, the focus was on getting to know each other through ice-breaking and team-building activities, which helped create a cohesive and collaborative group atmosphere. Participants shared their needs, expectations, fears, and potential contributions, which were carefully noted by the facilitator to ensure smooth project implementation. The following sessions explored the cultural, agricultural, and economic significance of almonds in Sicily—particularly in Avola, known worldwide for its distinct varieties of almonds. Participants gained direct insights into agricultural practices from local experts and the facilitator, who explained in detail the processes of cultivation and harvesting, shared traditional stories, and offered practical advice.
Participants conducted research on the role of almonds in the local dietary traditions of Avola. Through focus groups supported by the facilitator, they gathered and analyzed information, later presenting their findings in creative and inspiring ways. Based on the outcomes of these discussions, they identified strategies to encourage and motivate the local population to take greater care of their land and agricultural products. This led to the preparation of interviews, which were conducted the following day with various community members including private citizens, business owners, and public officials. The data collected formed the basis for a final report containing the results, proposed strategies, and policy recommendations for the local government.
After completing the fieldwork, participants compiled their findings into a formal document prepared with the support of Associazione Usamborgia and finalized by the facilitator. This report was officially presented to the Mayor and a local councilor of Avola. The presentation was highly successful, with both representatives expressing satisfaction with the results and enthusiasm for future collaboration to benefit the local community.
The group also had the opportunity to visit the Almond Museum of Avola and co-create the Almond Festival two highly engaging experiences that deepened their understanding of the almond’s cultural and economic significance in Sicily. Another highlight was a visit to Munafò, a world-renowned almond production and export company based in Avola. There, participants learned about the production chain from refining and packaging to global distribution and drew inspiration from examples of local entrepreneurship. The kindness and hospitality of the staff made the visit particularly memorable, and participants were even gifted almonds at the end of the tour.
Practical workshops complemented the educational component. Participants harvested almonds from trees made available to them, sorted the edible ones, cracked and ground them manually, and delivered them to the accommodation kitchen, where a traditional almond-based dish was prepared. They also learned how to make homemade almond milk, which they later enjoyed together.
The final activities focused on developing soft skills and connecting them with creativity and entrepreneurship. Participants transformed seemingly simple or unusable materials into high-value products, which they then “sold” to their peers in a simulation exercise. They also shared successful entrepreneurial practices from their home countries that could be adapted across partner regions, as well as initiatives aimed at engaging rural youth in community life and active citizenship. These ideas were presented through the “World Café” methodology, encouraging dialogue and collective reflection.
In the concluding sessions, participants explored the opportunities offered by the European Union for young people, worked collaboratively on a potential Erasmus+ project proposal, and completed their Youthpass certificates—officially recognizing the self-assessed competencies they had developed throughout the exchange.
