From June 19th to 22nd, 2025, Aia Santa in Tuscany, Italy, became a dynamic hub for the second edition of EtiCall Summer School, organized by Fondazione Finanza Etica and the Banca Etica Group, member of FEBEA.

Around 35 participants, all between 18 and 35, from Italy, Spain, and other countries came together in Aia Santa, a co-housing project run by Associazione C.A.S.E. that supports asylum seekers and vulnerable youth. The group included staff and members of Banca Etica, Fiare Banca Etica, and Etica SGR, as well as youth advocacy groups JóvenesxFiare and GenÉtica. The programme combined theoretical sessions and field visits focused on ethical finance, environmental sustainability, and building inclusive, resilient communities.

Exploring Ethical Finance and a Redefined Concept of Prosperity

Plenary sessions and daily workshops fostered collective learning. On the first day, professors Federica Ielasi (University of Florence and vice-president of Banca Etica) and Ugo Biggieri  (Global Alliance for Banking on Values, GABV) led discussions on ethical finance frameworks and dilemmas across Europe. Participants reflected on redefining prosperity beyond profit and examined the links between monetary value and well-being.

From Climate Justice to Civic Innovation

The second day focused on environmental sustainability and its connection to finance. Youth activists and journalists Sara Segantini, Lorenzo Tecleme, and Irene Ghaleb —delivered sessions on environmental justice and the role of international climate summits, particularly the Conference of the Parties (COP), in shaping global policy. Building on this, professor Leonardo Boncinelli offered a workshop on urban sustainability and economic gamification, highlighting how participatory tools can foster civic engagement and address environmental and social challenges.

Evenings balanced reflection and community life: shared meals, informal debates in the Tuscan landscape, and group excursions helped strengthen personal and professional bonds among participants.

Learning from the Field: Education, Conflict, and Cooperation

The third day focused on grassroots experiences. Participants visited Don Milani’s legacy in rural education and learned about Rondine, a centre for conflict transformation that works with youth affected by war. The day closed with a dialogue between Anna Fasano, former president of Banca Etica, and Mario Carlizzi, current president of Etica SGR, on the present and future of cooperative finance, including EU regulation, participation, and interdependence.

A Shared Commitment to the Future

The second edition of EtiCall laid a solid foundation of critical thinking, experiential learning, and lasting networks. It reaffirmed the urgency and value of building transnational spaces where ideas and relationships come together to advance a more just, sustainable, and democratic financial future.

Such initiatives provide engaged youth with a strong foundation for critical thinking and create spaces where other kinds of relationships and financial systems can be imagined.