The project

GIOCONDA (i GIOvani CONtano nelle Decisioni su Ambiente e Salute) stands for “young citizens count in the decisions on environment and health”. The project started as a LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (LIFE13 ENV/IT/000225) project, aimed at promoting the institutionalized participation of young people in local decision-making in the field of environment and health, focusing on air and noise pollution.

The LIFE+ project took place from June 2014 to November 2016. This participatory process was set up in secondary schools, within four areas in Italy with different socio-economic and environmental pressures: Ravenna, which is a small town with significant industrial activities; the Lower Arno Valley (San Miniato), an area with small tanneries and agriculture; Naples, a metropolis affected by waste management problems, air pollution and high noise levels; Taranto, town that is home to the largest steel industry in Europe. During the following phase, the GIOCONDA methodology was tested in five more schools, located in Ferrara, Bitonto (province of Bari) and in the Lower Arno Valley.

The final outcome of the project is the GIOCONDA platform, which is now available for schools and administrators throughout Italy.