Comments from participants 2025

«It’s such a privilege to work with international partners, and so important when the world is facing such acute and urgent challenges, and when so many routes to engage, cooperate, share are learn have been lost, and those that remain have become harder or more complex to navigate.»
Peter Holbrook

«Attending Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025 means something a little different for me. Yes, it is a chance to learn, connect and stretch our thinking as a sector. But it is also a return to a place that shaped my family and life. My Italian heritage has influenced how I live and engage, to develop networks of extended family, friends and community. That way of living sits at the centre of who I am.»
Debra Cerasa

«Today, at the Social Enterprise Open Camp, I took part in a dialogue with Elena Casolari, CEO & Partner at Opes Italia Sicaf-Euveca, to explore how Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo is positioning Trust as a pillar of its philanthropic action.»
Alberto Francesco Anfossi

«Honoured to see our former Executive Director, Myrna Atalla, continue to champion Alfanar’s work on the global stage at Social Enterprise Open Camp.
Myrna played a defining role in shaping our venture philanthropy model, and we are grateful for her continued support — and for articulating so clearly why long-term, locally led impact in the Arab region remains essential.»
Alfanar Venture Philantrophy

«It is over! Four days of inspiration at Social Enterprise Open Camp. Togetherness and cultivating systemic change in Torino, Cuneo and Pollenzo.
I enjoyed being on the panel ‘beyond lineair mindset’. And I am on the optimistic side that impact investing can make a difference, but we need to listen better to entrepreneurs and cooperatives, and not decide how they run their business.»
Maarten Derksen

«Every profound transformation begins with the ability to disobey the habits of thought.
A few days ago, I had the privilege of taking part in the Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025, an experience that brought together more than four hundred people in a travelling gathering across Turin, Cuneo and Pollenzo, all reflecting on this year’s theme: TOGETHERNESS – Cultivating Systemic Change.»
Luca Baraldi

«What an amazing few days at Social Enterprise Open Camp! It fantastic to be part of a panel with fellow rural social entrepreneurs Debra Cerasa, James Dunbar, and Meg Allan, to catch up with Peter Holbrook CBE and have so many insightful conversations with delegates from Europe, Kenya, Uganda, and Australia.»
Daniel Heery

«The 2025 Social Enterprise Open Camp concluded today, after four intensive days across Turin, Cuneo and Pollenzo, with TSI as a system partner.»
Torino Social Impact

«When we fund courage, we reshape futures.
The theme of the 2025 Social Enterprise Open Camp, “Togetherness: Cultivating Systemic Change,” was not just a headline; it was alive in every keynote, panel and conversation. hashtag#SEOC2025 is an energising space for learning, connecting and collaborating in support of social enterprise globally.»
Myrna Atalla

«Over the moon to have been invited to speak again at Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025 in Turin – Italy, organised by Opes-Lcef and Gruppo Cooperativo Gino Mattarelli. My keynote was titled “The Sound of Action”.»
Georgina Wilson FRSA

«Day 2 at Social Enterprise Open Camp landed with a different level of force. It was one of those days where the ideas were strong, but the human stories cut even deeper.
There were multiple moments of goosebumps in the presentations, the kind that stop you for a second.»
Wendy Bezzina

«I was truly happy to join the Moleskine Foundation panel at the Social Enterprise Open Camp in Turin, Italy , where our conversation explored the powerful role that creativity and culture play in driving social & civic change.»
Wabwire Joseph Ian

«Thank you to Social Enterprise Open Camp and Opes Italia Sicaf for organizing this extraordinary 4 days where purpose driven individuals, entrepreneurs, artists and investors connected. Special thank you to Alejandro Ibarra for inviting us to this event.»
Pietro Jonathan Bonanno

«I am back from an unforgettable weekend in Turin, Cuneo and the Langhe for the Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025!
I’m still processing the energy, belonging and inspiration that this community never fails to spark.»
Sofia Nibali

«SEOC 2025 unfolded with a clarity of intention — a space where people showed up with creativity, purpose, and the commitment to shape what comes next.»
Enid Brun

«A heartfelt thank you to the organizers of the Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025 in Piemonte for their incredible work, and to all the participants who made it truly meaningful.
It has been an honour to be part of this “small island of coherence in a sea of chaos that can help shift the entire system to a higher order”.»
Giulia Tringali

«So much of Day 1 has landed with real clarity for me. The word that keeps surfacing in my own reflections, and now my word of the event is “resonance” and it is showing up in every conversation, every frame, every challenge being unpacked here.»
Wendy Bezzina

«Yesterday marked the end of my first SEOC. These past days have been filled with growth, networking, and enrichment alongside incredible people from all over the world.
I’m grateful to Fondazione for giving me the opportunity to participate as a Young Advisory Board member, and to my fellow travel companions throughout this journey.»
Arianna di Pascale

«We’re proud to share that our CEO Georgina Wilson FRSA was invited to be a keynote speaker again at the Social Enterprise Open Camp held in Italy.
The audience was motivated to take forward small actions, because small actions done strategically lead to positive change.»
BUD Leaders

«What a day for day four of Social Enterprise Open Camp !!
After a massive day of workshopping our pitch for Circular11, trying to solve their wicked problem and pull together a presentation we were ready to go on stage. And nervously we were first up !!»
Wendy Bezzina

«Me preparing for a Panel vs Me being in the actual panel
65% of my works involves “communication”, and overtime I have learnt to feel the “heat” and still enjoy the process.»
Nancy Iraba

«2 days ago, Social Enterprise Open Camp (SEOC) concluded. I was privileged to be part of such event, where Opes Italia along with Gruppo Cooperativo Gino Mattarelli collaborated to create a one-of-a-kind event, where social innovators, social entrepreneurs, academics, and impact investors all met to soldify the idea that social entrepreneurship is the future of an equitable, inclusive and empathetic economy.»
Ahmed Orban

«Many small islands of coherence make change possible. Thanks Debra Cerasa for your energy and bringing the group of social entrepreneurs from Australia to our Social Enterprise Open Camp.
We heard beautiful stories about social change from many parts of the world.»
Elisabet Nyquist

«Grateful to have participated in the Social Enterprise Open Camp, an intensive international training event in Italy that brought together impact entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and changemakers from across the globe. This experience was packed with workshops, real-world case studies, plenary sessions, and inspiring keynote speeches from some of the most notable figures in social entrepreneurship.»
Anna-Kathryn Baxter

«Still buzzing from SEOC 2025 Social Enterprise Open Camp!
From the opening notes at Conservatorio Verdi, to the inspiring conversations in Pollenzo and Cuneo, this year’s edition tought me why SEOC is more than an event. It’s a collective shift — a space where purpose, innovation, and real-world action come together as shared resource. It’s a place to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones, from all over the world.»
Eleonora Scalera

«I loved the powerful question posed by moderator
Luisa Ferreira during Social Enterprise Open Camp session on how women seaweed farmers are connecting with using seaweed for food. For us at Healthy Seaweed Co. Limited, the journey began with research, advocacy, lived experiences, and household-level trainings that helped women see seaweed not just as a crop but as a nutritious food and an economic opportunity.»
Nancy Iraba

«Another Social Enterprise Open Camp has passed. Intensive days focused on social entrepreneurship in the hills of Cuneo.
The topic this year: systemic change. Engaging stakeholders to address deep-rooted problems, not merely symptoms.»
Alejandro Ibarra

«I’ve been quiet these last few months, what was I doing? I was working on SEOC 2025.
Two months of work, countless late nights, and more moving pieces than I can count.
Being part of the team that organised this event has been one of the most intense and rewarding experiences I’ve had so far.»
Edoardo Abbondio

«Last week, Social Enterprise Open Camp opened at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Turin with remarkable energy and a shared focus: meaningful change starts with how we choose to act, both individually and collectively.»
Elisabetta Giacosa

«Reality check. Learning. Friendships. Hope.
Grateful to have attended the Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025 in Turin last week. Over three intense days, 400+ participants reflected on today’s realities, shared lived experiences from the field, and brainstormed how we can move the needle on the world’s most pressing challenges.»
Bopanna B Prakash

«SPOILER: systemic change is a team sport — and hashtag#SEOC 2025 proved it.
I just wrapped up an incredible experience as a Workshop Leader at the Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025, teaming up with the brilliant Vincenzo Di Maria FRSA from commonground.
Yes, we basically spent two days happily nerding out on systems, collaboration, and creative chaos.»
Federica Cipriani

«Had an amazing four-day journey into Social Enterprise Open Camp at in Italy!»
Maral Talati

«Thrilled to have been part of Social Enterprise Open Camp in Italy!
hashtag#SEOC2025
Four days of plenary sessions, workshops, and inspiring conversations across Turin, Pollenzo, and Cuneo highlighted the power of Social Enterprise Open Camp.»
Maral Talati

«The Social Enterprise Open Camp by Opes-Lcef in Turin gathered some of the most forward-thinking organizations working at the intersection of social impact, culture, and community innovation.»
Nativas

«Living in an era of hashtag#polycrisis requires a response based on “hashtag#togetherness: the state of being close together.”
Changing the paradigm of current systems is a challenge that only a few dare to take on. Working in the third sector and related fields requires a deep awareness of what is happening around us, and the normal reaction is action.»
Nativas

«Taking a moment to reflect on one of the most inspiring weeks of my career. Attending the Social Enterprise Open Camp in Italy a few weeks back was hands down one of the most challenging, fun, eye-opening experiences I’ve ever had.»
Jodi Wood

«We are proud to see our CEO, Angela Juliana O., featured as one of the remarkable women leading transformational change at Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025 in Turin, Italy. Her voice, rooted in real community impact across Kenya’s Blue Economy, represents the resilience and leadership this global conversation needs.»
Rio Fish Ltd

«Stepping into my internship at Opes-Lcef felt a bit like being thrown into deep waters – and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to my professional journey!
Only a few days in, I found myself supporting the team behind Social Enterprise Open Camp, one of the most inspiring and transformative events I’ve ever been part of.»
Maria Dulcet

«Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025 – what an amazing experience!
Over the past days, me & Maria Vasli had the chance to join an inspiring global community of more than 300 participants from all over the world in Torino and Langhe area, all driven by the same mission: building meaningful, human-centered impact.»
Salvatore Gulfo

«It’s been incredible to be part of so many inspiring events in the social enterprise community lately!
First, the team at Social Enterprise UK headed to the Southbank Centre in London for the UK Social Enterprise Awards – a landmark event for the sector to come together and celebrate the impact of social enterprises across the UK.»
Francesca Maines

«A few days later, when I finally found the time to pause and reflect, I realized just how much the Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025 had left me with. Designed around the theme “Togetherness: Cultivating Systemic Change”, this proved to be an experience that was as intellectually stimulating as it was deeply human.»
Riccardo Salviato

«Reflecting on Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025
“Togetherness Cultivating Systemic Change”. I’m truly inspired by the incredible experience at OPES 2025. The event brought together passionate minds, dedicated changemakers, and visionary leaders, all committed to creating meaningful and lasting impact.»
Mercy Chepkirui

«Grateful for an intense and inspiring experience at the Social Enterprise Open Camp!
Thanks to Opes-Lcef and to all partners and foundations for renewing this meaningful appointment for social innovators.»
Federico Valotto

«How can we truly enhance togetherness?»
Echoes cooperation

«“What does it take to learn and lead from the emerging future?”
Otto Scharmer opened the Social Enterprise Open Camp 2025 in Turin earlier this month with this provocation.»
Alison Whitten