On 22 October, during the EASPD Annual Conference in Turin, members of our Member Forum on Employment enjoyed a study visit to Laboratorio Zanzara, an inspiring cooperative employing people with disabilities. 

About Laboratorio Zanzara 

Laboratorio Zanzara is a non-profit social cooperative based in Turin (Italy) whose mission is to support the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities through creative work and social enterprise.  

They operate as a day activity centre for individuals aged 16 and over, especially with intellectual or behavioural disabilities, engaging them in craft-, design- and communication-based workshops. The cooperative blends educational, rehabilitative and productive work: participants contribute to real projects, helping to make and sell their creations.   

The team of professionals – educators, designers, artists – works daily with the artists with disabilities to harness their individual strengths, foster self-expression, and break down stereotypes. They aim to create original, high-quality products that demonstrate an enterprise can succeed without relying on its social mission as a marketing tool. 

What happened during the visit? 

The group was welcomed by the cooperative’s team and taken on a guided tour of the workshops, including drawing, papier-mâché, conceptualising and logistics activities. We explored Laboratorio Zanzara’s new spaces and learned about its story: how the cooperative started, its growth, and its evolving role in the inclusion ecosystem. 

An open discussion explored how persons with disabilities are engaged in meaningful work, how families are involved, and how the work is organised day-to-day. 

Such study tours are organised as part of EASPD Member Fora activities, and are possible thanks to the Lighthouse Network initiative. They help EASPD members to learn more about the work of inspiring organisations and their innovative practices across Europe.