Italy Confronts Rising Youth Isolation with Nationwide Crowdfunding Initiative

In Italy, it is estimated that approximately 200,000 young people currently live in conditions of voluntary social isolation. These include hikikomori—girls and boys who progressively withdraw from school, work, and relationships—as well as thousands of adolescents who, without a formal diagnosis, slide to the margins of community life. The phenomenon has seen a significant increase in the first months of 2026, with an increasingly widespread prevalence among girls, particularly those aged 13-15 (sources: Hikikomori Italia and The Wom Healthy).

The most recent data paint a worrying picture: as early as 2025, research by the National Research Council (CNR-IFC) indicated that approximately 10% of Italian adolescents were showing signs of social withdrawal. Furthermore, analyses published in early 2025 indicate that cases of isolation have tripled in three years, highlighting a significant acceleration of the phenomenon, also as a long-term effect of the pandemic.

To respond to this silent but increasingly widespread emergency in Italy, ITASolidale ETS has launched the fifth edition of the Community Energies call, dedicated, for the first time, entirely to combating loneliness and youth social withdrawal. Eight selected projects from across Italy are now crowdfunding on Produzioni dal Basso, Italy’s leading crowdfunding and social innovation platform.

Crowdfunding campaigns active in Italy until early June

From pet therapy to personalized home support, a national toll-free number, expressive and theatrical workshops, talent discovery programs, and socialization experiences through animals, nature, and summer activities, the eight selected projects share a common goal: to rekindle relationships and combat isolation through educational and creative programs, social spaces, and experiential activities. The initiative’s goal is to foster the rebuilding of social bonds, restore trust in the community, and promote the relational and psychosocial well-being of young people, including those who are undiagnosed or at risk in Italy.

Crowdfunding campaigns will be active on Produzioni dal Basso until early June and include a co-financing mechanism: organizations must raise at least 50% of the budget through the platform, while ITASolidale ETS will match the remaining 50%, with a maximum contribution of €5,000 per project. This model combines grassroots participation and direct support, encouraging community involvement.

In addition to the financial contribution, the selected projects benefited from a structured support program for campaign development: a campaign manager from Produzioni dal Basso supported the organizations through initial training, personalized consulting, content review, follow-up sessions, and ongoing technical assistance. This support was designed to strengthen the campaigns’ effectiveness and maximize their impact in Italy.

“Youth isolation is an urgent and often invisible challenge, driven by fragility but also by a profound need for listening and connection,” says Gianfranco Marzocchi, President of ITASolidale. “With our Community Energy call, we chose to dedicate our resources to this silent emergency because we believe in collective, grassroots responses built together with communities. Crowdfunding, combined with our co-financing, activates local communities, relationships, and concrete tools to restore trust and foster young people’s reconnection with society.”

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(Featured image by Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash)

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