At CIbum, culinary training and inclusion: seven young autistic people receive diplomas.

The kitchen is not only the place where recipes take shape and flavor, but also the space where inclusion programs are developed. This is demonstrated by the long-standing synergy between In Cibum-Scuola di Alta Formazione Gastronomica, directed by Mariagiovanna Sansone; Oisma Aps, chaired by Annalisa Siano; and the non-profit organization Seconda Stella. Yesterday afternoon, Monday, July 28th, the In Cibum headquarters hosted the graduation ceremony for seven autistic boys and girls who attended cooking, pastry-making, and pizza-making courses. The project fostered growth, independence, and inclusion within the social and professional contexts shared by autistic and neurotypical students. The training offered by In Cibum instructors took a qualified and family-friendly approach, enabling students to acquire technical and interpersonal skills: from preparing a dish to safely handling utensils, to interacting with others. The team of instructors was composed of Marco Cefalo, resident chef; Valentino Tafuri, educational coordinator of the In Forno and In Pizzeria courses; and Imma Lopez and Raffaella Vara, In Cibum graduates who now manage the school's lab. A key contribution to this experience, which is part of the "Get Your Hands Dirty" campaign, was the contribution of Oisma's team of specialists (psychologists, social education workers, and social workers' associations) who supported the children in workshops, helping them consolidate essential skills for daily independence. Seconda Stella, a project partner, also contributed by offering a wide range of activities for adolescents and young people with disabilities. "Inclusion means sharing experiences," emphasized Mariagiovanna Sansone, director of the School, "systematizing everyone's experiences. The project synergy implemented with Oisma and Seconda Stella is a testament to this. The programs were structured around the potential of each individual student, leveraging their talents and helping them become more aware of the skills they have acquired." “Projects like this demonstrate through practice that it's possible to educate, empower, and help every single person grow, even when they follow unconventional paths,” explains Annalisa Siano, president of Oisma. “We're proud of each and every young person and grateful to those who have chosen to believe in our dream.”

The graduation ceremony concluded with the screening of a video story about the months spent in the In Cibum workshops: a storytelling about inclusion that emphasized the energy of doing, the beauty of sharing, and the dignity of building, one step at a time, one's place in the world.