From September 16 to 17, 2025, a study visit was held in the Italian city of Trento as part of the "Community Potential" Program, which has been implemented by the National Foundation for Civil Society Development since 2024.
During the two-day stay in Trento, representatives of the City of Zadar and City of Biograd na Moru, teachers and students from the Ante Kuzmanić Medical School Zadar, Vice Vlatković Vocational School Zadar, and Biograd na Moru High School, as well as senior citizens from these cities, and i3.0 Strategic Partner of the National Foundation, the European Foundation for Philanthropy and Social Development – participated in an intensive program of experience exchange and joint work with Italian colleagues. The aim was to learn about examples of good practices for intergenerational cooperation, citizen inclusion, and local community development.
During the four-day stay in Trento, participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with examples of good practices in local community development, intergenerational solidarity, and models of cooperation between civil society and the public and private sectors, characteristic of Trentino, a region known for its strong tradition of cooperatives and social innovations.
Program activities included meetings with representatives of the Autonomous Province of Trento, the City of Trento, the consortium Consolida, and the Trento Federation of Cooperatives. Special emphasis was placed on projects aimed at senior citizens, among which the following stood out: Pronto PIA, Custodi di Comunità, and Casa Felice – Ville S. Ignazio, presented at the Senior Citizens' Center Contrada Larga. Young participants had the opportunity to actively participate in round tables, where they exchanged experiences with Italian colleagues and learned about good practices for involving young people in community development processes.
The study visit allowed participants to expand their knowledge, exchange experiences, and gain inspiration for developing innovative initiatives in their own communities in Croatia, thereby further contributing to strengthening social cohesion and encouraging active European citizenship.
