Adnkronos Rome, May 14 (Adnkronos) – Appointment tomorrow at 12 at the Quirinale for the new 29 Alfieri della Repubblica appointed by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who will give them the relative certificates of honor. Young people who have distinguished themselves in their studies, in cultural, scientific, artistic, sports activities, in volunteering or have performed acts inspired by civic sense, altruism and solidarity.
"New paths for solidarity" is the theme that inspired the choice of the young people awarded in this edition. In recent years - explains the Presidency of the Republic - the idea of solidarity has evolved by integrating new technologies, sustainable approaches and greater involvement of communities. And young people, in particular, are today protagonists of a modern solidarity that reflects a dynamic, creative and technological spirit. A solidarity that is increasingly accessible, inclusive and adapted to the challenges of the contemporary world.
Among the stories told are those of girls and boys who have decided to use their scientific and technological skills to tackle important social and environmental challenges in order to improve the quality of life of many people; examples of teenagers who use writing as a tool for social change, to address relevant issues and raise awareness among their peers on the importance of culture in building a more aware and open society; the testimony of young people active in the universal value of sport, as a powerful tool that allows you to overcome any physical, cultural, social or economic barrier.
Alongside these examples of innovation, there are those - more classic but no less important for the common thread that holds together the Alfieri della Repubblica appointed in the various years - of the young people who have distinguished themselves for 'heroic' gestures, of those who present themselves as models of active citizenship because they are committed to promoting the culture of legality, of the many volunteers who devote themselves to the most vulnerable, all bearers of extraordinary stories of inclusion and resilience.
In addition to the awards for individual behavior, President Mattarella also assigned 4 plaques to reward collective actions of young people and very young people, also an expression of the values of solidarity, inclusion and hospitality. A set of choices, the Presidency of the Republic explains, with which the Head of State also symbolically intends to highlight that indefinite number of young people who are committed and work hard in daily life, contributing every day to nourish that set of values that constitutes the fundamental driving force for our society.
Maddalena Albiero, 18, from Bardolino, in the province of Verona, has managed to express feelings, fears, dreams that are common to kids her age through poetry. Giada Baltieri, 17, from Caldiero, in the province of Verona, born in 2008, bravely faces osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare and still little-known genetic disease.
Michele Barbatelli, 19, from Appignano, in the province of Macerata, offers a testimony of the resilience of the communities that populate the Italian villages and of the desire to keep the traditions of the territory alive, promoting its beauty and history. Niccolò Bartolacelli, 18, from Serramazzoni, in the province of Modena, used his computer skills to create a software, called Chroma, that makes reading the musical score easier for those who have dyslexia.
Tommaso Caligari, 19, from Cressa, in the province of Novara, deeply affected by the suffering of his grandfather, at just 17 years old created an artificial intelligence device that can allow for the early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Angela Calise, 19, from Caserta has already been put to the test by life. The loss of her father, her mother's illness, the suffering she experienced first-hand: these are events that she has been able to face with strength and determination without ever closing herself off, indeed without missing an opportunity to help others.
Gabriele Ciancuto, 13, from Amelia, in the province of Terni, a 'little Piero Angela' who decided to give back what he had learned, writing two books in which he helps children understand, in a simple way and with clear images, the beauty of the solar system and the principles of physics. Sara Cozzolino, 17, from Naples, is an Italian taekwondo champion who, in her free time, generously volunteers to train children with disabilities in her neighborhood.
Francesco De Marco, 18, from Reggio Calabria, rescued and saved an elderly couple who were at risk of drowning at the mercy of the waves on the Sicilian coast. Giorgia Fabris, 15, from Trieste, through small daily gestures actively contributes to the reception and integration in a socially complex neighborhood, with a high immigration density.
Samuel Massa, 16, from Fossacesia, in the province of Chieti, jumped into the sea and rescued a roe deer, entrusting it to the care of the competent authorities. Maria Letizia Mello, 19, from San Pietro in Lama, in the province of Lecce, in the most difficult moments of the pandemic, despite her studies undertaken for a military career, chose to dedicate her Christmas leave to keep company with the almost centenarian and familyless elderly people of the nursing home in her town.
Riccardo Folli Ruani, 14, from Imola, in the province of Bologna, has a great passion for jellyfish and marine sponges, sentinels of the sea that he has studied and collected since he was a child. In his house he has set up a small museum and carries out an incisive awareness campaign among his peers. Beatrice Orlandi, 19, from Asti, a volunteer in the Oncology department of the 'Cardinal Massaia' hospital in her city, playing her instruments, harp and piano, accompanies the long waiting times related to the administration of therapies.
Francesco Mazza, 17, from Lamezia Terme, in the province of Cosenza, transmits to the little ones the best values learned by practicing judo. Edoardo Levanja, 13, from Monterotondo, in the province of Rome, decided to play baskin on the team of a schoolmate with a disability precisely to help her during training.
Erik Kokoshi, 12, from Verona, shares his love of reading with Mrs. Paola, a neighbor who unfortunately lost her sight a few years ago. Paola, touched by Erik's desire to learn, periodically gives him books and to reciprocate the generosity he has started sending her voice messages in which he reads chapters of the books she likes the most.
Camilla Aurora Fanelli, 21, from Milan, every Saturday morning, together with her father and sister, trains a volleyball team made up of a dozen inmates from the Monza prison, as part of the project “Free to play”. Claudia Pais, 19, volunteers at Save the Children’s Punto Luce, giving back part of the good she received and that allowed her to grow up overcoming difficulties.
Bianca Perrone, 12, from Trepuzzi, in the province of Lecce, after losing her sight when she was only one year old, created a YouTube channel, “Bianca, la fata delle farfalle”, in which she recounts her daily life and shares her immense passion for music.
Francesco Pratesi, 18, from Greve in Chianti, in the province of Florence, helped the Red Cross improve its services by creating a new computer program. Giulio Prodan, 17, from Trieste, created the 'ClassLab' project: through simple and fun experiments, he explains the most varied topics to primary and secondary school children, from bacteria to digestive processes.
Niccolò Ricci, 16, from Carrara, left the classroom to go to the bathroom, when he noticed that a school assistant was at risk of choking while eating a snack. Without losing his cool and with great clarity, he intervened promptly and performed the Heimlich maneuver on the woman, which he had learned from his mother, a nurse.
Martina Romiti, 19, from Rome, tries to interest her peers in the issues of legality and the fight against the mafia, promoting events and insights both in school and in the neighborhood where she lives. Chiara Runfolo, 17, from Palermo, born and raised in the Cep neighborhood, attending the San Giovanni Apostolo Association, has always shown a natural inclination to help others, especially the children she looks after after school.
Serena Simonato, 18, from Cavenago di Brianza, in the province of Monza, has managed to involve several peers with whom she goes around the cities of Monza and Milan on weekend evenings to provide assistance to the homeless. Diego Vergani, 15, from Lentate sul Seveso, in the province of Monza, has been fighting for over a year against an aggressive disease that has forced him to undergo delicate surgery and long months of rehabilitation. Despite the difficulties, his attachment to life and an immoderate passion for music have recently led him to win a music competition organized by the school.
Marta Virdis, 20, from Villanova Monteleone, in the province of Sassari, last year organized a fundraiser to allow very expensive treatments for a little girl in her community, involving many other kids and associations in the area. Davide Zilli, 13, from Osio Sopra, in the province of Bergamo, has lived with his cochlear implant, which he affectionately calls Rolly, since he was just one year old. He developed a device capable of sending notifications and alerts if the audio processor were to inadvertently move while it is charging. This invention earned him first prize in an important international contest.
Finally, the commitment to rescue, to promote plurality, to safeguard the territory, to fight gender violence. These are the values that the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, wanted to underline in assigning four plaques to reward collective actions of young people and very young people, next to the nomination of the Alfieri della Repubblica.
Sara Pedrotti, Emma Franceschini and Azzurra Navarini, fifteen-year-olds from Trento, intervened promptly, saving the life of an elderly person suffering from cardiac arrest. The fifth B class of the Turin II Comprehensive Institute - 'G. Parini' primary school was instead awarded for having given value to plurality. The members of the Eagles Squadron of the Agesci Bari 10 Scout Group planned and carried out the enterprise of cataloging the entire Asi Urban Park, located in the Industrial Development Area between Modugno and Bari.
SottoSopra Genova-Movimento giovani Save the Children is instead committed to many issues that young people feel are urgent: from the redevelopment of urban spaces to bullying, to gender violence.