ColtivAbile is a garden park created by Autismo and Società ETS in Moncalieri, which offers employment and inclusion opportunities to people on the autism spectrum of all ages and severities, through horticulture, gardening and cultivation of medicinal herbs.
Between 2024 and 2025, thanks to a similar project, 1,200 cosmetics were produced, including creams and soaps, involving autistic children and five companies in the sector, with the support of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Table of the Turin Industrial Union.
What the project involves
The project aims to develop a line of natural cosmetics made with herbs grown in the park, following a scientific and measurable method. The goal is to gradually build an aptitude for productive work for autistic adults, respecting individual capacities and resources, promoting empowerment, increased awareness, attention and personal satisfaction.
The initiative also aims to guarantee dignity through work remuneration and to disseminate products through various distribution channels: corporate gifts, shops, pharmacies and hotels. Monitoring involves the production of at least 1,000 cosmetics and verifying the replicability of the adopted model.
The beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries are the 30 young people currently involved in cultivAbile activities. The indirect beneficiaries are families and the community, as the project intends to generate a replicable model that favours job placement as an alternative to traditional day centres. The expected impact also relates to cultural change, countering the bias that autistic people are unable to perform full work activities.
Project name: Linea di prodotti di cosmetica coltivAbile
Proposing organisation: Autismo e Società ETS
Area of intervention: Inclusion & Social Development
Country: Italy