Attentive, prepared, curious and not at all intimidated by the place they were in and the people they spoke with.
It is in this spirit that fourth and fifth grade students of the Canossiane Institute of Potenza lived the training experience linked to the “Active Citizenship” project, the initiative curated by the Information, Communication and Events Structure of Regional Council of Basilicata, aimed at promoting knowledge activities of the regional administrative machine.
Accompanied by the director of the Institute, Natalina Lucia, and the teacher Valentina Zuddas, the children were welcomed at the Regional Council by the manager of the Information, Communication and Events Structure of the Basilicata Regional Council, Pierluigi Maulella Barresewho after recalling that every right is linked to a duty and that it is fundamental for everyone to become aware of their responsibilities towards themselves and towards others, focused on the meaning of the project which is to bring young people closer to institutions.
He has declared:
“We must always remember that it is important to be an active part of the community make your voice heardpropose ideas and take an interest in politics.
Maybe among you there could be a future regional councilor, a deputy, a senator.
A path that will allow us to give a voice to those who don’t have one, help those in need, putting the needs of others before our own.”
After viewing a video on the functioning of the Regional Council and the Regional Counciledited by the Press Office, the official Andrea Mercurio invited the children to always reflect on the value of the Italian Constitution which contains the fundamental principles of civil life in our country.
Remembering what was said by a well-known constitutionalist who compared the Constitution to a well-built and well-governed ship that can navigate safely, facing all storms, thanks to the engines, the well-structured control bridge and the lifeboats, Mercury captured the attention of the children who followed with interest the explanation on the world of institutions and the daily work that takes place here aimed at developing the well-being of citizens and protecting common goods.
The writer Gianluca Caporaso then illustrated to the children the meaning of the “Gonfalonia” editorial projecta journey among the coats of arms of Basilicata, curated by the La luna al Gunzaglio Association.
Caporaso, who wrote the quatrains shown below the illustrations in the publication, led the students by the hand on a sort of adventure to discover castles, towers, stars and weapons.
“I show you what is a map that little by little, image after image, word after word, when it is all revealed, will become a poster that you can hang in your bedrooms so as to always keep in mind the new discoveries you will make and find a thousand reasons to travel and encounter the wonder that our region inspires”.
The final moment of the training experience took place in the Council Chamber.
The director general of the Regional Council welcomed the children, the manager and the teacher, Domenico Tripaldi, who explained that the Regional Council is the representative body of the regional community which exercises the legislative function attributed by the Constitution to the Region. The Council – Tripaldi specified with extremely simple language and with practical examples – legislates on some matters of regional competence, such as healthcare, transport and agriculture”.
The director of the Canossiane Institute, Natalina Lucia, defined herself as particularly satisfied with the meeting and stated that the notions of active citizenship should not only be studied but practiced and experimented.
“Our students took a tour of the Constitution, with which we tried to make them understand that we live by observing laws, which is not just a mere observation exercise but is the prerequisite for living well in a community.
As an Institute, we have seen getting to know the places and the people who are responsible for making us live well as an opportunity for interesting training.
I hope that there will be more opportunities to visit institutions to ensure that children can feel an active part of a community”.
Happy and excited to take their seats among the council benches children, invited to hold the role of regional councilors for one dayasked director Tripaldi sitting at the presidential table, actions aimed at improving the state of the roads, the gyms “where we spend happy hours”, strengthening our hospitals, giving more space to less populous municipalities, designing spaces for entertainment for the elderly, to make schools more modern, welcoming and functional.
