Palermo Knowledge Exchange Workshop

The first transnational workshop of the InPlaLabs project partners was held in Palermo, Italy, hosted by the project partner Bond of Union, a social cooperative based in the city. The meeting marked an important milestone for the partnership, allowing all participating organisations to meet in person, exchange methodologies, and align their objectives towards a shared vision for the implementation of the project.

Bond of Union operates in the field of education and European cooperation, working at both local and international levels. The cooperative promotes participatory processes that foster social inclusion and active citizenship through the design and implementation of educational initiatives, training programmes, and collaborative projects. Its approach is grounded in the belief that learning and cooperation are key tools for empowering individuals and communities. Thanks to its experience and strong engagement with local stakeholders, Bond of Union provided an ideal setting for hosting this first transnational exchange.

Workshop Activities

The meeting lasted two days and included a combination of workshops, collaborative sessions, and local exploration activities. The agenda was designed to encourage mutual learning, facilitate the exchange of practices, and strengthen cooperation among partners.

Each organisation presented its experience, methodologies, and areas of expertise, enabling a rich and diverse dialogue among participants. Through interactive sessions and group discussions, the partners worked together to define a shared framework for the project, identifying common objectives, key priorities, and potential synergies among their respective activities.

Engagement with Local Stakeholders

An important component of the meeting was the engagement of local stakeholders. This took place through a networking event organised in collaboration with marememoriaviva, an eco-museum in Palermo that documents and communicates the history of the city’s northern coastline.

This activity provided an opportunity to connect the project’s objectives with local realities and to explore the role of cultural and community-based organisations in promoting education, sustainability, and social inclusion.

The event was attended by academics, professionals, practitioners, and university students, contributing to a multidisciplinary dialogue around the themes addressed by the project. The exchange of perspectives supported the co-development of a shared vision for the establishment of a multidisciplinary network that will facilitate future collaboration between the project consortium and local stakeholders.

Outcomes

The Palermo meeting marked a crucial step in building the foundations of the project, both in terms of internal cooperation among partners and external engagement with relevant stakeholders. The workshop demonstrated the consortium’s commitment to participatory approaches, knowledge exchange, and sustainable networking as key principles of its work.

The partners express their sincere appreciation to marememoriaviva and epyc_palermo (European Palermo Youth Centre) for their hospitality and active participation. Their contribution significantly enriched the meeting and strengthened the connection between the project and the local context of Palermo.