Entrepreneurship at School: Liguria Invests in Youth with JA Italia.

The Winning Project: “Lolly”
Taking first place was the team “Lolly” from class 4ª AFM of IIS Bergese-Rosselli in Genoa, with an idea as original as it is useful: a lollipop capable of detecting blood alcohol levels, designed to raise awareness among young people about the dangers of alcohol abuse. The project impressed the jury with its social value and innovation, earning a spot at the National Entrepreneurship Championships in Bergamo, scheduled for June 4–5, 2025.

Competing Projects: Innovative and Sustainable Ideas
In addition to the winning project “Lolly”, the competition featured original proposals from all over Liguria. Notably, three special mentions were awarded to other standout ideas. Students from I.I.S. Gastaldi-Abba Genoa presented “Dogtivity”, a web app that connects people with disabilities to assistance dogs, featuring an integrated crowdfunding system that also supports adoption from shelters. This project received the Compagnia San Paolo Award for Social Impact.
The team from IISS Bergese-Rosselli Genoa developed “Food Loop”, a digital platform that redistributes unsold meals from culinary schools and restaurants to those in need, based on their ISEE (economic status), promoting inclusion and the fight against waste and poverty. This project received the Special Jury Mention for Social and Educational Value.
Finally, from Deledda International School Genoa came “Survitals”, a multi-functional water bottle for hikers and ultramarathoners: it purifies water, contains survival tools, and is made from eco-friendly materials. For its particularly effective presentation, the promoting class received the Best Booth Award.

JA Italia: Educating for Enterprise, Inspiring the Future
Junior Achievement Italia is the Italian branch of the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to economic and entrepreneurial education. Accredited by the Ministry of Education and Merit, JA Italia promotes programs like Impresa in Azione, which allows students to create real mini-enterprises, developing entrepreneurial skills, soft skills, and self-awareness.

A Network of Partners Supporting Youth
The event was made possible thanks to the support of numerous partners: Confcommercio and Confcommercio Giovani, under the patronage of the Genoa Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the competition, and Genova Gourmet, which provided catering. Public entities such as the Regional School Office, FILSE, and the Riviera di Liguria Chamber of Commerce also collaborated, along with Talent Garden Genoa, contributing resources, mentoring, and organizational support.

Next Steps
The “Lolly” team will represent Liguria at the National Championships, with the opportunity to qualify for GEN-E 2025, the largest European youth entrepreneurship event, to be held in Athens from July 1 to 3, 2025.

Written by Donatella Zunino