The LSi of the University of Foggia does not stop and on 22 May 2024, at the Masseria Educationa “Madonna dell’Assunta” in Altamura, part of the Taste&Tour consortium, it will welcome students, the academic community and citizens in a new stage of the Inclusion Fest. The event program includes creative workshops, motivational speeches and musical moments, offering an engaging and educational experience for all participants, with the aim of promoting awareness, education and inspiration towards a future of acceptance and respect mutual for everyone.
The enthusiasm for diversity and inclusion will continue on May 22, 2024 with the Inclusion Fest at the Masseria Didattica Taste&Tour in Altamura. The event, an engaging and stimulating celebration of all forms of diversity, is only the last of the stages of the traveling festival entirely dedicated to scholastic and social inclusion. “It is with great satisfaction – says the Magnificent Rector of the University of Foggia, prof. Lorenzio Lo Muzio – that we see the Inclusion Fest come to life in Altamura. This event represents an important step forward in promoting diversity and inclusion, fundamental values for our university and our community. The Inclusion Fest is an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate diversity and to promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect and I am sure that this event will be a stimulating and educational experience for all participants”.
Prof. Giusi Antonia Toto – full professor of Didactics and Special Pedagogy at the University of Foggia, coordinator of the Learning Sciences institute and delegate of the Rector for Teacher Training and Continuing Education and Orientation – continues to involve her team of research cities, schools, cultural and social associations committed to guaranteeing an after us for individuals with disabilities no longer only in Foggia, but throughout the entire Puglia region. “This is – says Professor Toto – an initiative that significantly amplifies the impact of our mission, allowing a wider audience to participate and benefit from the activities and messages of inclusion promoted by the event. Furthermore, bringing the Inclusion Fest to other cities and communities in the region helps create a broader network of awareness and support for inclusion, encouraging collaboration between different realities and promoting widespread cultural change”.
Even the prof. Giorgio Mori, delegate for Teaching and Placement, reflects: “Our task as delegates and the task of the University of Foggia in general is and remains to promote innovative and inclusive teaching practices to guarantee quality education for all students in as the commitment to promote social and cultural inclusion is fundamental both for our academic community and for the community itself, which is made up of individuals of all backgrounds.”
The Inclusion Fest program will offer a wide range of activities involving students, the academic community and citizens of the city. The workshops dedicated to music, creativity and empathy will begin at 12.30pm, offering participants the opportunity to explore and experiment with new forms of expression and connection.
At 2.30 pm, the Inclusion Fest will welcome institutional guests, including Prof. Lorenzo Lo Muzio, Rector of the University of Foggia, Prof. Giusi Antonia Toto, Prof. Francesca Cangelli, Prof. . Luigi Traetta, Prof. Annamaria Petito, Prof. Giorgio Mori, Prof. Cristiana Simonetti and Prof. Vitantonio Pretronella, Mayor of the Municipality of Altamura, the President of the Pro Loco Pietro Colonna and Dr. Antonio Giampietro, Guarantor of people with disabilities in the Puglia Region. Furthermore, inspirational speakers such as Dr. Angelo Damato, president of the “Vivere 360” association, and Dr. Stefania Grimaldi of the WorkAut Association will also be present, ready to share their precious testimonies.
Then, in the afternoon, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in unique experiences, such as the Dolina Tre Paduli Path for the visually impaired, followed by an engaging musical moment by the talented rapper Francesco Piazzolla, known as “Siffa”.
Professor Annamaria Petito, Rector’s delegate for Gender and Inclusion Policies, commented: “Events of this kind represent an important step forward for the university and our territory towards the creation of a welcoming and inclusive environment for all . Raising awareness on issues related to disability and inclusion is crucial to promoting a more equitable and supportive society, and it is for this reason that we fully support this and all the initiatives promoted by the LSi research team. These are precisely the initiatives that push us to work with even more enthusiasm to guarantee equal opportunities for our students.”
The Inclusion Fest is a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity, promote awareness and build a more inclusive and supportive community, confirming itself as a fundamental initiative to raise awareness, educate and inspire individuals of all backgrounds to work together towards a future in which every person is accepted, respected and valued for who they are.
