ESC: Youthquake II: community and environmental activities in Italy!

The Municipality of Penna San Giovanni deals with all the administrative functions that concern the population and the municipal territory, with particular regard to services to the person and the community, the planning and use of the territory and economic development. Located on the ridge between the valley of Tennacola and that of Salino, Penna San Giovanni has a well preserved historic center within the ancient curtain wall. Full of architectural and natural riches, it presents churches and remains of fortifications which, together with green areas and parks, constitute the evocative beauty of the country. It has a rich environmental and urban heritage, which must be promoted and enhanced by improving the offer through the involvement of different actors. Environmental protection is an objective to be achieved. Comune of Penna San Giovanni, aim to form eco-sustainable citizens, aware that many small positive actions can lead to a general change in the critical issues that are being experienced at the social level, at environmental and economic level. One of the objectives pursued by the City Council is to enhance the entire heritage of the Municipality of Penna San Giovanni and improve the quality of life of all citizens, from the smallest to the elderly, with initiatives aimed at protecting the environment, in order to improve the quality of the natural and urban offer of the territory through conservation and promotion activities also aimed at expanding opportunities for youth. In particular, as regards the protection and enhancement of the environmental and urban heritage, the Authority carries out the following activities: promotion of local offer with information points; involvement of educational institutions and local associations; education in the use of natural resources; enhancement of natural systems, flora and fauna; awareness raising and environmental education campaigns for students, citizens and tourists, with particular attention to families and new generations in order to make prevention in the field of environmental protection and territory; organisation of meetings and conferences on the following main themes: lifestyles to promote sustainable practices (e.g. urban gardens and school gardens), separate collection and promotion of production chains aimed at reducing waste production, air quality and electromagnetic pollution, energy saving and renewable energy sources, human-animal relationship; maintenance, promotion and enhancement of environmental resources with particular regard to parks, gardens and nature trails. The efforts of the Administration are aimed at strengthening a proposal, made of real content capable of promoting sustainable development, giving priority to adequate livability, without passively witnessing a new phenomenon of emigration and depopulation, in order to offer opportunities for community growth. The Municipality of Penna San Giovanni welcomes, in all periods of the year, many visitors and emigrants who return to their places of origin. Despite the limitation of economic resources, the effort to make even more attractive a territorial area that has many peculiarities to enhance. The quality of the offer is ensured by the ability to establish synergies with the different social components, defining coherent activities that, in their various articulations, involve the deepest and heterogeneous aspects of the territory.