Smile and Make Pasta

Every year, in Italy, over 100,000 children face prolonged hospitalizations, often isolated and with little appetite. These experiences can generate emotional distress and impaired sense of normality. “Smile and Make Pasta” was created to respond to this need, bringing children into the kitchen to learn how to prepare pasta, stimulate creativity and create moments of exchange and comfort.

A pasta therapy laboratory that combines care, play and tradition.

What the project involves

Through monthly workshops, children participate in hands-on pasta workshops led by volunteers and, when possible, by parent chefs. The activities combine culinary learning, nutrition and knowledge of local ingredients with moments of leisure and cultural sharing. The experience helps improve the appetite and mood of the little ones, offering a sense of dignity and normality in the hospital.

The project is scalable: from a pilot workshop in Milan it has expanded to Turin, with the aim of reaching hundreds of children and thousands of indirect beneficiaries, including families, volunteers and hospital staff. The initiative is built on strong partnerships, local sourcing and trained volunteers, ensuring sustainability and possibilities for expansion into other hospitals and educational settings.

The beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries are children hospitalized and their families, who participate in the monthly workshops and cultural exchange moments. Indirectly, the project involves volunteers, hospital staff and the local community, expanding the impact to thousands of people.

The key principles – inclusion, creativity, joy and connection – ensure a meaningful experience for each participant, improving emotional well-being, sociality and quality of life during the hospital stay.

Project name: Smile and Make Pasta
Proposing organisation: Smile and Make Pasta
Area of intervention: Inclusion & Social Development
Country: Italy