Unveiling the Youth Worlds and Future: Methodological Experiences of Applied Anthropology in Youth Educational Contexts

This article explores three applied anthropology interventions conducted in Italy, aiming to understand and value youth experiences in non-formal educational settings. Using a participatory methodological approach, the projects examine young people’s relationships with public space, food culture as an identity element, and psychological challenges in the post-pandemic context. The interventions (“Bang! Immagini da Valenza!”, “Il Cibo a 4 Occhi,” and “Pazzesk@”) focus on fostering youth identity co-construction and facilitating intergenerational dialogue. The findings demonstrate how an interdisciplinary, multimodal approach can provide a safe expressive space for youth, strengthening their role as active agents within communities. Finally, the article discusses the potential of applied anthropology to address educational and social issues and suggests ways to expand these practices into new territorial and institutional contexts to support the growth and social participation of future generations.