Restoring the mountain through advanced learning processes
Italy's Mountain School Project: Empowering Mountain Communities
The Mountain School project, a unique educational and research initiative in Italy, is focused on the sustainable management, protection, and enhancement of mountain territories. Established in 2022, the project is a collaborative effort between the University of Turin, SocialFare IS Srl, and Andrea Membretti.
The project's primary objective is to train professionals with skills in analysis, projection, and management of mountain areas and their natural resources. It aims to prevent environmental degradation, promote sustainable solutions for forest conservation, mountain agriculture, and green tourism, and address the geographical and socio-economic marginalization of mountain regions.
The Mountain School project goes beyond the development of services or social entrepreneurship projects in the mountains. It provides comprehensive guidance for individuals, like Lorena Orlando, a 45-year-old nurse, and Giuliano Faccani, a 73-year-old retired neurosurgeon, who are looking to transfer their lives to the highlands. The project's focus is shifted from entrepreneurship to the entrepreneurial spirit to be adopted and developed in one's life.
The knowledge acceleration method used in the Mountain School helps clarify ideas for participants, providing them with new perspectives, processes, and tools. This method has been instrumental in the development of professionals such as mountain agronomists, biodiversity experts, forest engineers, and territorial economic enhancers.
In addition to its academic leadership from the University of Tuscia, the Mountain School project boasts international cooperation. The University of Milan Research Center UNIMONT HUB plays a pivotal role in international cooperation, sharing innovative educational approaches related to mountain regions. The project also collaborates with academic and governmental organizations such as the Agency for Protected Areas and the International Association of Mountainous Regions of the Caucasus.
Moreover, the project's vision encompasses innovative environmental education methods such as using mountain shelters as "gateways" for sustainability learning. This practical engagement with mountain communities underscores the project's commitment to empowering local residents and fostering sustainable development.
Since its inception in 2022, more than 200 people have been involved in the broader Mountain Living project, with over 60 of them benefiting from the Mountain School in Piedmont and Abruzzo. The project's founder, Giuliano Faccani, has decided to spend his active retirement in the mountains, putting his years of work-developed skills at the disposal of the community. Lorena Orlando, on the other hand, sees the mountains as a place to practice her profession without having to live in the city with a low quality of life and high cost.
In conclusion, the Mountain School project in Italy is an interdisciplinary educational program dedicated to sustainable mountain resource management and territorial valorization. With key academic leadership from the University of Tuscia and international cooperation involving institutions like UNIMONT and various regional and environmental agencies, the project is poised to make a significant impact in the protection and development of Italy's mountain territories.
[1] Mountain School Project: https://www.scuoladelmonte.it/ [2] UNIMONT HUB: https://www.unimont.it/en/ [3] Agency for Protected Areas: https://www.agenziaareeprotegge.it/en/ [4] International Association of Mountainous Regions of the Caucasus: https://iamrc.org/en/
- By adopting an entrepreneurial spirit and participating in the Mountain School project, individuals like Lorena Orlando and Giulianno Faccani, can transition their lives to the highlands, benefiting from expertise in fields such as mountain agronomists, biodiversity experts, forest engineers, and territorial economic enhancers.
- Beyond traditional career paths, the Mountain School project also offers learning opportunities for personal growth and self-development, such as outdoor-living and sustainable practices, catering to diverse lifestyles, including those seeking home-and-garden solutions or solutions that foster personal-growth.
- The Mountain School project leverages innovative learning methods, like using mountain shelters as gateways for sustainability education, to ensure the success of its participants and the larger mountain communities, empowering local residents for sustainable development and promoting a focus on education-and-self-development.
