Following the conclusion of the 7 online training sessions dedicated to mountain professions, promoted by ANCI Nazionale via ANCI Lombardia and UNIMONT – University of Milan, the programme lays the groundwork for an upcoming module focused on digital skills and for the new territorial hub located in the Municipality of Edolo.
The online meeting series of the “Hub Giovani per le Professioni della Montagna” has concluded with resounding success and widespread participation. This systemic initiative was promoted by ANCI and managed by a partnership comprising ANCI Lombardia, Rete Informagiovani, UNIMONT, Consorzio Consolida, and the Municipality of Edolo, which will host the future Permanent Territorial Hub.
Conceived to spotlight employment opportunities within mountain professions—including those tied to the legacy of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games—the project aims to guide and support younger generations in forging professional and entrepreneurial pathways in mountainous areas.
The seven training sessions recorded the participation of over 250 young people from across Lombardy, confirming the growing interest in the opportunities offered by Alpine and pre-Alpine territories.
The programme was structured into two macro-modules, offering a comprehensive overview of the challenges and potential of contemporary mountains. The first module explored traditional sectors undergoing rapid evolution, addressing topics such as agriculture, agritourism, the forestry-wood supply chain, and the sport-tourism nexus. The second module instead focused on the new drivers of development, delving into technological innovation, communication, territorial marketing, and the various forms of mountain tourism.
Thanks to the contributions of 21 professionals, administrators, entrepreneurs, and experts, the meetings—moderated by industry journalists—provided participants with concrete tools, operational skills, and opportunities to exchange ideas with established experiences, through an inspirational approach, the sharing of career paths, and practical advice.
A clear message emerged from the programme: today, the mountains offer concrete opportunities for employment, enterprise, and professional growth, if approached with passion, drive, and the right tools. Whether launching an entrepreneurial venture, working in Public Administration, or integrating into the local productive fabric, mountain areas increasingly demand qualified skills and represent a dynamic context in which to build one’s future.
Furthermore, the results achieved constitute the starting point for establishing the new territorial Hub in the Municipality of Edolo, destined to become a permanent venue for guidance, mentoring, and skills development for young people wishing to build their professional path in the mountains.
“The results of this programme demonstrate that the mountain is not a territory to be assisted, but a place in which to build the future, innovation, and opportunities“, says the Mayor of Edolo, Luca Masneri.
“When young people are offered skills, tools, and a vision, they respond with enthusiasm and participation. The Youth Hub for Mountain Professions represents an investment in the human capital of our communities and testifies to how policies for inner areas must focus not only on infrastructure, but above all on people.
The birth of the Edolo territorial Hub is part of a broader strategy: to make our community a point of reference for training, vocational guidance, and innovation in the highlands. The Milano-Cortina Olympics represent an extraordinary opportunity, but our ambition looks beyond 2026. We want to build a stable development model, capable of creating qualified employment, retaining young people, attracting new skills, and strengthening the competitiveness of mountain territories.
The Italian mountains possess all the resources to be the protagonist of the country’s development. Our task, as institutions, is to create the conditions so that young people can choose to stay, return, or invest in these territories, transforming what has for too long been considered a limitation into a great opportunity for growth.”
The project will now continue with an additional training module dedicated to digital skills and territorial promotion, which will also be carried out online and will allow participants to obtain a final certificate, further strengthening their professional background.
The initiative confirms how collaboration between institutions, universities, third-sector entities, and local administrations represents the most effective way to build new development opportunities in mountain areas and offer the younger generations concrete tools to design their future.