The eighth Italian Living Lab of the European Grass Ceiling project has just concluded in Ruvo di Puglia. It was a meaningful event, where past and future came together in the personal stories of eight women at the heart of the journey.

Drawing from their own experiences as innovators in rural contexts, the participants took part in a narrative workshop titled “From Soil to Voice: How to Tell Who You Are and Why You Do What You Do,” led by journalist and documentary filmmaker Ernesto Pagano. It was an intense and emotional session that reopened drawers of memory, bringing back gestures, scents, and childhood imagery: hands covered in soil, a cloud-filled atlas, a father reading stories before bed. Simple yet telling memories — already hinting at the road ahead.

The second half of the day shifted toward action: Maria Grazia de Nicolò, representative of Puglia Sviluppo, introduced the regional initiative “Nidi,” a funding measure designed to support the creation of new businesses, with particular attention to self-employment and women entrepreneurs.

The meeting concluded with a focus group — an intimate and participatory space for gathering feedback from the protagonists, reflecting on the value of the learning journey both personally and collectively. It was a meaningful opportunity to give voice to emotions, inner transformations, and the bonds formed throughout the experience.

Funded by the European Horizon Europe programme, Grass Ceiling is a three-year journey launched in 2022, aimed at empowering women in rural settings. It blends storytelling and innovation, roots and vision — with the goal of creating new opportunities and amplifying the voices of women in rural areas.

The project will wrap up in December 2025, with a final event scheduled for autumn 2025.