More and more often, those who find themselves on the margins of the labour market are not there because of a lack of motivation, but because of a lack of real opportunities able to offer a second chance to those who want to start over.

It is in this context that the Urban Gardening course promoted by Orienta was created. The initiative involved a group of former inmates from the city, providing them with new practical skills and concrete employment opportunities. It is a project that successfully combined inclusion, skill development and a tangible impact on the local area, a second chance built on hands-on training, guidance and trust.

The course, delivered in collaboration with the socially driven enterprise Ridaje and funded by the Forma.Temp fund, concluded leaving a mark not only on the participants directly involved, but also on the surrounding community.

On the one hand, participants gained marketable professional skills, crucial for placing themselves once again at the centre of a personal and professional life project. On the other, the initiative proved to be, and will continue to be, an important asset for the Turin community, representing an investment in urban wellbeing, the care of shared spaces and a model of development that does not exclude, but integrates.

This was not simply about green maintenance. It was about caring for shared places and transforming them into opportunities for connection and regeneration. It is precisely here that training meets active citizenship and becomes a tool for social cohesion.

The real added value of the programme lies in its transition from training to employment. At the end of the course, participants began working with Orienta, taking on green maintenance activities for several companies. This outcome is far from guaranteed and demonstrates that training can only be truly effective when it is designed from the outset as part of a broader employment pathway.

Orienta’s role: beyond job placement

For Orienta, organising this course confirms a vision that goes beyond the simple matching of labour supply and demand. Investing in inclusive training pathways means taking on a broader responsibility, supporting people through periods of transition, recognising their potential and building opportunities with lasting impact.

This initiative shows that inclusion, when tangible, does not remain confined to principles but takes shape through structured processes, territorial partnerships and measurable results. It is a model that invites reflection on how vocational training can become a tool of active social policy, capable of generating both economic and human value at the same time.