A pizza with a purpose. That is what comes to my mind when I see PizzAut here in Milan. This is more than just a restaurant. It is a testament to dreams and the will to change things.
PizzAut is an innovative model of social inclusion. It is a place where barriers are broken down. These barriers are often in our heads and not in our hearts.
Nico Acampora is the heart and soul behind this project. Faced with his son Leo’s autism diagnosis, he saw an opportunity. He saw an opportunity to create a different future for autistic children. These children often spend their days at day centers or indoors.
Acampora founded the non-profit association PizzaAut. This happened in 2017 with the slogan Let’s Nourish Inclusion. He started quietly with a pizza chef and a restaurant manager. They taught the kids the trade.
Even a pandemic could not stop them. The pizzeria’s opening was postponed due to lockdown. But business continued on the PizzAutObus. This is the food truck of inclusion.
In 2021, the first PizzAut restaurant opened in Cassina De Pecchi. It was the first restaurant in Italy. It was managed directly by staff with autism. These young people aged between 20 and 25.
Families noticed improvements in their social skills. Work became excellent support. It helped the therapeutic activities. Many kids can now take public transport on their own. Others have even taken out mortgages. This is thanks to permanent employment.
In 2022, President Mattarella recognized Acampora as a Knight of the Order of Merit. Celebrities like Stefano Belisari visited PizzAut. The team even cooked for parliamentarians in Rome. Pope Francis wore a red apron. He spoke about the importance of an economy that puts people first.
Today, PizzAut employs 35 people with autism. The project includes PizzAut Academy. This is a training course for people between 18 and 29. It promotes the labour inclusion of autistic people in catering.
The pizza here is simple and genuine. It is family friendly and affordable. Pizza allows you to set your imagination free. It is also an occasion for celebration. It is a moment of conviviality among loved ones.
PizzAut’s goal is to export social inclusion. They want to spread this innovative model. They want to help other businesses become more inclusive.
The restaurants are designed with specific needs in mind. There are no architectural barriers. Furniture has soft-close mechanisms. There are oversized extractor hoods to avoid olfactory overstimulation. Lighting is designed to be uniform. It avoids areas of shadow.
The cooking process allows the staff to be autonomous. A belt takes the pizza through a tunnel to the oven. This makes it impossible to forget the pizza inside.
PizzAut is more than just a place to eat. It is a laboratory for social inclusion. It is a place where young people with autism can thrive. They can gain dignity and autonomy through work. It shows us that together, we can nourish inclusion.
So let’s step inside PizzAut. Let’s enjoy some delicious pizza. Let’s support this incredible mission. By doing so, we are investing in a future. A future where everyone has the opportunity to shine. A future where everyone has the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.