Torri Superiore Ecovillage is running K.E.F.I.R., an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange for young people aged 18 to 30 from Italy, Spain, Greece and Slovakia, held inside a restored medieval village in Liguria, with applications closing on Sunday 27 September 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we read the call because it treats a kitchen skill as a way into much bigger questions: self-sufficiency, community, and what actually connects people to each other.
The project's name spells it out: Knowing and Experiencing Fermentation to Inspire Regeneration.
What the Project Is Actually About
K.E.F.I.R. is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange designed to put in common and practice young people's ability for self-production, creativity and DIY, while gaining a deeper understanding of the impact of different lifestyle choices and how to shift towards a more sustainable and regenerative lifestyle.
🍲 The project will activate a temporary community around food, the impact of food, and how to process food, in a mutual learning-by-doing space between participants, each one sharing their own talents and abilities.
🐌 Participants will discover how fermentation and slow-pace food bring people together, in comparison to fast food and industrial food.
Fermentation as the Red Thread
Fermentation will be the red thread of the project. The exploration goes beyond how to prepare fermented food.
🌱 It covers how fermentation is key for soil health and for cleaning products, and the role of "social fermentation" in youth as an active part of building regenerative cultures.
🤝 The programme connects this exploration with local permaculture projects, migrant youth and the wider Torri Superiore community, building towards a final "Fermentation Fair".
Main Topics
🌍 Environmental sustainability
🌿 Ecological awareness
🛠️ Practical skills for professional and everyday life
🏘️ Engagement in local communities
🌾 Permaculture
🔬 Non-formal learning through hands-on science
💪 Healthy lifestyle
🧠 Critical thinking
Who Can Apply
The project targets young people aged 18 to 30 who:
🌍 Are interested in sustainability, active citizenship, and community engagement.
🥣 Are interested in learning more about fermentation as a practice and as a phenomenon.
🎯 Have fewer opportunities due to geographical, economic, social, or educational barriers.
📚 Are motivated to learn through non-formal education and practical experiences.
🌐 Wish to engage with intercultural and intergenerational learning processes.
The Venue: A Living Medieval Village
🏰 The mediaeval village of Torri Superiore is a small jewel of popular architecture located at the foothill of the Ligurian Alps, a few kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea and the French border, close to the coastal town of Ventimiglia.
🕰️ Originating in the thirteenth century, the village is structured in three main bodies with more than 160 rooms, all connected by an intricate fabric of stairways. Its complex structure has often been compared to a fortress or a labyrinth, perched on the mountainside.
🌿 The village has been entirely restored and is now open to ecotourism, for courses, meetings and programs of environmental education.
♿ Because of its character as a historical complex, the ecovillage is not completely accessible to people with severe mobility impairments. Applicants should take this into account when planning their participation.
Dates and Who Is Going
🗓️ 23 November to 2 December 2026, 8 full programme days plus travel.
🌅 The exchange starts on Monday 23 November after dinner, with the best time to arrive between 16:00 and 19:00, and ends on the evening of Tuesday 1 December. Departures are in the morning of Wednesday 2 December.
👥 6 participants plus 1 youth leader per country, from Italy, Spain, Greece and Slovakia, plus 2 facilitators.
✅ You need to commit to participate in the full programme to be eligible as a participant.
What's Covered
💶 Costs are covered by the Erasmus+ Programme. Accommodation, food and programme are fully funded.
🚆 Travel costs are reimbursed up to a maximum depending on your country of origin.
🎓 A Youthpass is issued at the end of the exchange.
How Selection Works
Participants are selected by their local partner organisation in coordination with the project facilitators. Priority is given to young people with fewer opportunities due to geographical, economic, social, or educational barriers, so applicants facing these barriers are actively encouraged to apply and to name them in their application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the application deadline?
Sunday 27 September 2026.
Who can apply?
Young people aged 18 to 30 who live in Italy, Spain, Greece or Slovakia.
Do I need experience with fermentation or cooking?
No specific experience is mentioned as a requirement. The project is built as a mutual learning-by-doing space where participants share whatever talents and abilities they bring.
Is the venue accessible for people with mobility impairments?
Not completely. The ecovillage is a restored historical complex with an intricate structure of stairways, and it is not fully accessible to people with severe mobility impairments.
What does the programme actually cover, beyond food?
Fermentation is used as a starting point to explore soil health, home-made cleaning products, permaculture, and "social fermentation", the idea of what slowly transforms a group of people into a culture.
Is there a cost to participate?
No. Accommodation, food and the programme are fully funded by Erasmus+, and travel is reimbursed up to a ceiling that depends on your country.
What do I get at the end?
A Youthpass certificate, issued at the end of the exchange.
When should I arrive?
The exchange starts Monday 23 November after dinner, with the best arrival window between 16:00 and 19:00.
Project Snapshot
📌 Type: Erasmus+ Youth Exchange
📍 Location: Ecovillage Torri Superiore, Ventimiglia, Liguria, Italy
🗓️ Activity Dates: 23 November – 2 December 2026 (8 full programme days plus travel)
🌍 Countries: Greece, Italy, Slovakia, Spain
🎂 Age: 18–30
Deadline
⏳ 27 September 2026
Applications close on Sunday 27 September 2026, and selection is coordinated between local partner organisations and the project facilitators, so applying with time to spare matters. Find more Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges on Youth Works Hub.
Link
🔗 Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2i8JuG_0eZsqnG7q8piQ5B1pqL-KeDQSjtZD_BsExxiT7tQ/viewform
📄 Infopack: https://canva.link/d9larlt14gju61x
📧 Questions: dario@torri-superiore.org
