EN | Step4

Step4 is the first social enterprise established in Italy for active global citizenship education and sustainable development. It collaborates with non-governmental organizations, associations, foundations, training institutions, businesses, and civil society organizations, providing strategic consultancy; scouting for national and international calls for proposals and tenders; assistance in all phases of project cycle management; and training and capacity building for operators, trainers, and educators.

Step4 was founded in Milan on December 19, 2014, by a group of five professionals with extensive experience in the design, drafting, and management of development cooperation and education projects, co-financed by major public and private donors, both European and Italian. The enterprise emerged following a six-month program of training, capacity building, tutoring, and mentorship under the "Start-up Social Enterprises" call, promoted by the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce and implemented by Formaper, a special agency of the Milan Chamber of Commerce.

Step4 is a social limited liability company, meaning a non-profit enterprise committed to contributing to a fairer and more sustainable society through its work. The partners have chosen not to pursue profit, pledging to reinvest all profits entirely back into the company’s social mission. Step4 is registered in the social enterprises section of the Milan Chamber of Commerce. From its inception, Step4 has been an agile and digital enterprise, without a rigid operational structure and without employees. All collaborators are freelancers with experience in various fields.

Step4 provides consulting, training, and support services for the design, formulation, and management of education, training, capacity building, and communication projects. It helps its clients and partners to: identify national and EU funding opportunities suited to their profile and sector; offers capacity building products and services, project design, and project cycle management support (identification, formulation, funding, implementation, reporting, evaluation); and to design, plan, and/or implement specific education, training, capacity building, and communication projects and activities.

In its first 9 years of activity (2015-2023), Step4 directly reached over 30,000 lower and upper secondary school students, around 5,700 teachers, and 900 non-profit sector operators. Step4 has designed, drafted, and/or submitted dozens of projects, contributing—together with its clients, lead organizations, and partners—to raising over 16 million euros in national and European funds to support cooperation, education, reception, and inclusion initiatives. On the educational front, it has developed 22 educational kits for schools of all levels, implemented 30 training courses for teachers, and conducted thousands of hours of workshops for lower and upper secondary school students across Italy.

Through research, consultancy, design, and training activities, we transform sustainability and active citizenship from simple goals into concrete and measurable realities. We firmly believe that education is a driving force for change, an essential engine of innovation and growth. To achieve these objectives, we have developed a structured pathway in four phases: search, track, engage, power. Each phase represents a fundamental element in building an educational approach that not only informs but transforms, laying the foundations for a lasting impact.

Step4 supports schools in building a future based on sustainability, rights, and global citizenship. Through educational programs that integrate the principles of the 2030 Agenda, we promote the development of essential skills to tackle global challenges. Our interactive workshops and training courses, successfully tested in numerous schools, help students and teachers explore topics such as circular economy, social justice, and the environment, providing concrete tools for an education that goes beyond traditional boundaries. With its experience and commitment, Step4 demonstrates that education can be the cornerstone of positive change, preparing new generations to become informed and active citizens in an increasingly interconnected world.

Step4 is the ideal partner for third-sector organizations looking to strengthen their strategy, training, and operational capacity. With extensive experience in strategic consultancy, Step4 supports organizations in integrating sustainability, rights, and global citizenship into their projects and programs. We offer tailored training and capacity-building pathways designed to enhance staff skills and optimize the effectiveness of activities on the ground. Our experience in project design, consolidated through numerous collaborations, allows us to assist organizations in creating innovative, high-impact initiatives that align with the Sustainable Development Goals. With Step4, third-sector organizations can rely on comprehensive support to grow, innovate, and make a difference in the communities they serve.

Step4 offers companies the opportunity to become leaders in sustainability and social responsibility through concrete and engaging initiatives. With training programs on key topics such as climate change and human rights, as well as mentoring programs in schools to promote sustainability education, we help businesses invest in the future of new generations. Our proposals create a strong connection between the company and the local community, enhance employees' skills, and demonstrate how a commitment to a better world can seamlessly align with business success. For those looking to take an extra step, we can also co-develop corporate volunteering projects and programs that provide opportunities to actively participate in change, turning values into concrete and visible actions.

Our intervention model is an invitation to embark together on a journey toward innovative education—a pathway that doesn’t just enrich knowledge but profoundly transforms the way we live, work, and interact. At the end of this journey, we don’t simply reach the conclusion of a cycle; we arrive at the beginning of a deep transformation. The four phases we propose not only multiply the effectiveness of education but elevate it to an unstoppable force for change. With this approach, education becomes a powerful catalyst for developing individual skills and building informed global citizenship. This synergy amplifies the impact of each phase, ensuring that education transcends traditional boundaries and becomes a driving force for innovation and sustainable growth, with every individual actively participating in positive change in the world.