Last April 24th, the Sala dei Notari hosted a special meeting, a moment of dialogue and learning which involved a group of children from the nursery schools of the Perugia 1 comprehensive institute and the deputy mayor Gianluca Tuteri. This meeting marks the culmination of a civic education project focused on the Constitution and Italian laws.
The children from the Sorelle Agazzi (Elce), Alfabetagamma (Ponte d’Oddi), Scoiattolo Rosso (Cenerente) and Mario Petri (Colle Umberto) schools, under the guidance of the director Francesca Volpi, had the opportunity to meet the deputy mayor to discuss issues of citizenship and civic participation. Throughout the school year, these young citizens read the book in class The Constitution is like a tree by Lorenza Farina, a text that introduced the fundamental principles of the Italian Constitution in an accessible way.
A significant part of the project was the creation of a large tree painted on a billboard. Each class contributed by creating a part of the tree: roots, leaves, flowers and fruit. Various laws have been associated with each part of the tree, explained by the teachers or proposed directly by the children themselves. This creative approach allowed children to approach the laws and the Constitution in a tangible and engaging way.
The meeting with the deputy mayor represented a unique opportunity for the children to interact directly with a representative of the local institutions, ask questions and share their reflections. “You shouldn’t steal snacks”, “you shouldn’t scratch your classmates”, “you shouldn’t tell lies”, these and many other laws proposed by the children and reported to Deputy Mayor Tuteri.
In a period in which civic participation and respect for the rules are more important than ever, initiatives like this take on a particular meaning, offering children the tools necessary to become active citizens committed to building a better future for all.
