From 20 to 26 July around 100 young people will participate in the latest edition of the International School of the Economy of Communion. A space of training, dialogue, and engagement, its goal is to build an economy that prioritises equality and inclusion.

The International School of the Economy of Communion for Young People will take place from 20 to 26 July 2025 at Mariápolis Ginetta, in São Paulo, Brazil. Organised by EdC International (ANPECOM), the school will bring together around 100 young people of various nationalities between the ages of 18 and 25. It will be a week of intense training, shared experiences, and profound reflection on an economy that centres around the common good.

The principal goal is to introduce the younger generations to the culture of the Economy of Communion (EdC), a programme founded by Chiara Lubich in 1991 that proposes an economic vision based on communion, gratuitousness, and reciprocity. Young people who have entrepreneurial vocations, are involved in social projects, or are linked to the Economy of Francis and Genfest 2024 networks are especially encouraged to participate.

Training, Experience, and Engagement

The School will offer theoretical and practical immersion in the values and fundamentals of the EdC, combining meetings, workshops, visits to companies, social projects, and spaces for dialogue. Each day will have a specific thematic focus, tackling key issues such as decent work, leadership based on reciprocity, social and climate justice, and building a regenerative economy.

‘We want young people to reflect on their personal choices and to be conscious of the fact that, to change the world, it is necessary to employ systems thinking,’ Sarah Gomes – the advisor to the Research and Initiatives Network of the EdC in Brazil – explains. ‘We will pay particular attention to young people who are discovering their vocation for decent and transformative work, as well as to those who feel a calling for an entrepreneurial vocation. We will offer them practical tools and inspiration so they can integrate the principles of the Economy of Communion into their careers, projects, and initiatives,’ she adds.

A Week to Dream and Act

The programme will officially begin on the morning of 21 July with a day dedicated to ‘Personal Choice’, during which life stories and testimonials will introduce the fundamental values of the EdC. This will then be followed by days centred around ‘EdC Culture’, ‘Entrepreneurial Management’, and ‘Social and Climate Justice’. Each of these themes will be explored through workshops, visits, spaces for dialogue, and personal engagement.

Among the experiences scheduled, there will be visits to initiatives like Business Polo Spartacus and the company Espiga Dourada, which provide concrete examples of how the EdC translates into sustainable and human economic realities.

The EdC Forum: A Bridge Between University and Enterprise

The School will culminate in the Economy of Communion’s Annual Forum, which will take place in Brazil from 25 to 26 July. Research selected via an open call will be presented at the forum. This space will unite academics, entrepreneurs, young people, and experts around themes of the dignity of labour, sustainability, and comprehensive protection of people.

The forum will provide an opportunity to consolidate ties, share good practice, and renew commitments to an economy that puts equality, inclusion, and communion first.

How to Sign Up for the International School of the Economy of Communion

The School will be delivered in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, and you can sign up on the official website: edc.com.br/escola2025.

Young people between the ages of 18 and 35 from any country can take part, and there is a particular focus on those who are looking to steer their professional calling towards transformative change.

For the full programme, click here.

Article translated into English by Becca Webley