Consumer rights: students from Rome, Carignano near Turin, and Monte San Pietro near Bologna win the “Consumer (Re)generation – CoRe” project contest
Today’s young people navigate a complex marketplace, where risks such as greenwashing, dark patterns and counterfeit products are increasingly common. Knowing how to exercise the right of withdrawal, identify a safe product or protect oneself from aggressive commercial practices has therefore become essential for making free, responsible and informed choices, both online and in physical stores.
These were the main objectives pursued by the 667 students aged between 12 and 16 who took part in the “Consumer (Re)generation – CoRe” project, promoted by Cittadinanzattiva. The students came from 35 classes in 16 schools across seven Italian regions.
The project included a training programme on consumer rights and involved the classes in an ideas contest, in which students created original communication messages. It also led to the final drafting of the Young Consumers’ Manifesto, developed from the work produced by all the participating students.
The three best messages created by the students were awarded prizes on 13 May during a national online event.
Class II LLQ B from the Highlands Institute secondary school in Rome won with the slogan:
“Don’t be a careless customer: sign every contract wisely. Know your rights and make every action count: fair consumption will do the rest!”
Class 3D from the Carignano Comprehensive School near Turin presented the message:
“Put only the best in your shopping cart: shop safely and show that you are smart!”
Class 3A from the Monte San Pietro Comprehensive School near Bologna won with the slogan:
“To shop responsibly and safely, we must learn how to protect ourselves from scams, just like superheroes! Become a Consuperman too: ALWAYS SHOP SAFELY!”
Each of the three winning classes received a voucher worth €2,000, which can be used by the class or the school.
The winning slogans were selected by a panel made up of representatives from Cittadinanzattiva, iliad and Anima Giovane. They were assessed according to their relevance to the project’s themes, originality and creativity, effectiveness, peer appeal—that is, the ability to use a tone and language suitable for engaging young people aged 12 to 16—and the persuasive strength of their call to action.
The project also included the joint creation of the Young Consumers’ Manifesto. This collective national document brings together the work produced by all the participating classes and summarises their ideas, rights and responsibilities relating to responsible consumption.
In the Manifesto, the students set out clear guidelines and proposed new rights and ideas for the future. These include simpler labels, repairable products that help reduce the throwaway culture, effective protection of personal data and a stronger focus on consumer education in schools.
Alongside these rights, the students also accepted specific responsibilities: avoiding impulse purchases, gathering information before buying and choosing products that are environmentally and ethically sustainable.
The Manifesto also offers practical advice to help young people navigate today’s marketplace. It encourages them to “buy less and choose better” and “not be afraid to stand up for their rights”.
This official project document will be translated into English and widely distributed throughout Italy and Europe.
To support the Manifesto, the students will also take part in a peer-to-peer education campaign, becoming ambassadors for consumer rights both inside and outside their schools.
“The Consumer (Re)generation – CoRe project shows that young people can play an active role in promoting consumer rights. The 667 students involved successfully addressed complex issues—from product safety to greenwashing, and from counterfeiting to unfair commercial practices—with creativity, awareness and language that speaks directly to their peers,” said Tiziana Toto, Head of Consumer Policy at Cittadinanzattiva.
“We are particularly proud of the Young Consumers’ Manifesto, which was created with contributions from all the participating classes. It is a document that includes requests for stronger protection, as well as practical commitments to making more informed, safe and responsible purchases.
Through this programme, students are becoming ambassadors for consumer rights in their schools and among their peers. They can help create a new generation of citizens and consumers who are more aware, more responsible and freer in their choices.”
“Consumer (Re)generation – CoRe” is co-funded by the European Union and carried out in partnership with the associations InfoCons and the Union of Working Consumers of Greece (EKEE), with the support of iliad.
