Benkadì (IT) – Fair Trade, Circular Economy & Sustainable Lifestyles

Benkadì APS is a community-based non-profit organisation based in Staranzano, Friuli Venezia Giulia, North-Eastern Italy. Founded in 2004, Benkadì works on Fair Trade, critical and sustainable consumption, environmental and civic education, social inclusion and community participation.
Local context
Benkadì operates in the Bisiacaria area, in the lower Friuli Venezia Giulia, within the wider Mediterranean and Adriatic context. The territory is closely connected to the Isonzo river and its coastal ecosystems. The nearby Foce dell’Isonzo–Isola della Cona is an internationally recognised Ramsar wetland and the northernmost coastal wetland of the Mediterranean, forming part of a wider system of Mediterranean and Adriatic coastal wetlands.

The association is part of a long-established local network involving schools, associations, social cooperatives and other community organisations. Local public authorities are also a fundamental part of this network and collaborate with Benkadì across its projects, supporting the territorial development and implementation of activities.

Fair Trade is an important part of our international outlook. Through our activities and networks, we are connected with organisations working in Italy, Slovenia and other European and international contexts, and we are interested in developing new international partnerships.
Benkadì runs two Fair Trade shops in Staranzano and Monfalcone, which also function as community and cultural spaces. Our small professional team works together with volunteers, schools, associations, social cooperatives and external specialists.

Our experience includes Produttori di Trame (Producers of “Trame”. In Italian, the word “Trame” has a double meaning: the weaves of fabrics, and plots—as in stories.), a local project addressing fast fashion, textile reuse, repair, upcycling, ethical production and sustainable lifestyles, involving young people, schools and local communities.
Our Educational Area has been structured since 2017 and has developed numerous educational projects in schools throughout the Province of Gorizia, combining sustainability, critical thinking, citizenship and participation.
Laboratori di Ecologia (Ecology Laboratories) is another relevant experience: a platform and incubator for different local organisations and professionals, bringing together activities with children, students, adults and families around ecology, biodiversity and sustainable practices.
We are interested in projects focusing on:
– circular economy and sustainable consumption;
– Fair Trade and ethical supply chains;
– textile reuse, repair and sustainable fashion;
– green skills and behavioural change;
– social inclusion and cooperation with social enterprises;
– community-based sustainability initiatives.

What we can offer: a concrete local pilot in Friuli Venezia Giulia, educational activities, community engagement, work with schools and young people, public events, testing and adaptation of methodologies, dissemination and links with Fair Trade and local social-economy networks.

We are particularly interested in projects where European approaches and methodologies can be tested and adapted in a concrete local context, while sharing our territorial experience with the wider partnership.
We are not looking to lead large transnational work packages, but to contribute as a local pilot and community-engagement partner.

Contacts:
Web site: http://www.benkadi.it
E-mail: educativa.benkadi@gmail.com