ECOPASS - European network against organised crime thanks to promotion of social alternatives

Summary

The project raises awareness that mafia-related issues are not confined to Italy but also affect France. It highlights Italy’s proactive approach to recognising and combating organised crime, serving as an inspiration to French participants. Through a mix of formal and informal activities, the initiative presents Italy’s tools and strategies as “antidotes” to help others recognise, resist, and counter mafia influence.

“With this training stay, the moving exchanges between French and Italian victims of organised crime allowed them to feel less alone and more efficient in mobilising the authorities of their country”.  

Topic(s) addressed

The project explores civic engagement, justice, remembrance, and anti-mafia education through innovative pedagogy and international youth cooperation, aligning with the EITA theme of inclusive, transformative education for active citizenship.

Civic engagement, justice, remembrance, and anti-mafia education through innovative pedagogy and international youth cooperation, inclusive, transformative education for active citizenship.

Target group(s)  

27 project participants, including family members of mafia victims, students, teachers and other members of Crim’HALT.  

Methodologies used

The project combined formal and informal learning to foster civic engagement and social responsibility. Activities included participant workshops, exchanges, site visits to mafia-confiscated assets, and opportunities for reflection and connection - linking historical memory with present-day challenges. It employed a multidisciplinary approach that integrated history, law, and ethics, while encouraging learners to actively participate, reflect on their role as European citizens, and engage with local Italian actors. These dynamic and participatory methods promoted key competences, which were assessed at the end of the project.

Innovation environment

By engaging learners on-site in Casal di Principe - once a stronghold of mafia activity - participants became agents of social change. Visits to repurposed mafia-confiscated assets and collaboration with local NGOs combating organised crime provided an immersive, real-world learning context. This cooperation fostered an inclusive, participatory, and unique educational environment. The initiative generated momentum for all actors to share and combine their resources, enabling cross-border dialogue on the importance of resisting mafia systems. It also forged meaningful connections among participants from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to understanding and addressing organised crime.

Teachers’ role

By stepping beyond traditional roles, teachers co-created knowledge with participants - linking historical events to contemporary social issues and sharing their expertise on the specific themes studied. Their involvement in transnational cooperation enriched their pedagogical practices and supported their professional development. Teachers also served as key connectors between participants, local stakeholders, and Italian partners, helping to amplify the project’s transformative impact.

Impact and output

The project fosters youth empowerment and civic awareness, while strengthening intercultural understanding, public speaking, and social engagement skills. Learners return as active citizens, inspiring peers, teachers, and their wider communities. Its strong visibility and collaboration with NGOs and local authorities have created a spill-over effect that extends to families, institutions, and civil society in France. The initiative has also attracted significant media attention, with numerous articles published in the French press.

Learn more about the project

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