{"id":107570,"date":"2026-03-31T15:49:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fondazionepirelli.org\/uncategorized\/il-mondo-salvato-dai-ragazzini-e-il-ritorno-della-passione-politica\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:24:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:24:38","slug":"the-world-saved-by-kids-and-the-return-of-political-passion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fondazionepirelli.org\/en\/corporate-culture\/the-world-saved-by-kids-and-the-return-of-political-passion\/","title":{"rendered":"The world saved by kids and the return of political passion"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018I was learning so many things while I taught.\u00a0 For instance, that others’ problems are like mine. To come out of them together is good politics. To come out alone is stinginess.\u2019 This now famous passage appears in Letter to a Teacher<\/em><\/strong> by Don Lorenzo Milani<\/strong>, a seminal work on pedagogy, civic education and good politics.\u00a0 It was essential reading for the tens of thousands of young people who discovered the injustices of the school system in the mid-1960s. The system with a tendency to marginalise the weakest and poorest children and contradict the Constitution’s aim to pave the way for and favour \u2018the capable and the deserving\u2019.<\/p>\n

Don Milani’s words are worth reading carefully once again, particularly at a time when the younger generation is facing a barrage of conflicting judgements:\u00a0 a lack of interest and apathy towards civic engagement and solidarity, and emotional reactions to major global issues alongside an excess of fickle emotionalism.<\/p>\n

According to Don Milani, there is one word that deserves our attention:\u00a0 \u2018together<\/strong>\u2019. It was precisely this combination of commitment and mobilisation that had a significant influence on the outcome of the recent referendum on the separation of judicial careers, resulting in a resounding victory for the \u2018no\u2019 vote. This was largely due to the younger generation’s decision to vote in large numbers and reject what they perceived as an amendment to the Constitution that touched upon its fundamental principles.<\/p>\n

It is still too early to say that there is a certain political wind blowing or that renewed interest in the country’s future is emerging. Of course, anyone observing the ideas, tensions and passions of younger generations will notice a growing awareness of major social issues<\/strong>,\u00a0 such as uncertainties about the future against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts, sweeping changes to the world of work, a lack of authoritative points of reference, and a school system that is perceived as failing to provide students with the tools to understand radical global changes or the skills to navigate technological shifts and enter and progress in the world of work.<\/p>\n

These are times of uncertainty and hardship.\u00a0 But now there is something more to it, as demonstrated by the voting trends in the referendum:\u00a0 the desire to be part of the process, combined with a willingness to have their say without placing their trust in traditional political leaders. \u2018If young people vote for an idea rather than specific politicians,\u00a0 voting \u201cNo\u201d in the referendum is not a vote of confidence in the centre-left, but an expression of their personal opinion,\u2019 comments Matteo Lancini<\/strong>, a scholar specialising in the turbulent years of adolescence (La Stampa, 27 March).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s good that people are taking an interest in politics and\u00a0 civic values again.\u00a0 For what are known as ‘republican virtues\u2019, the ability to breathe new life into the political sphere and the values cast aside by decades of cynicism and the mere exercise of power for power’s sake.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the world of volunteering, in all its forms, both Catholic and secular, demonstrates a profound social and civic commitment. It shows a growing willingness to work together to overcome problems, which is the very opposite of selfishness.<\/p>\n

However, there are also other signs that are worth picking up on and turning into expressions of engagement, an understanding of changing circumstances and personal commitment. These include the emergence of political schools distinct from traditional party schools,\u00a0 associations such as Vedr\u00f2 (which enjoyed success in terms of debate and political analysis a few years ago),\u00a0 and above all, growing participation in literary and historical festivals, book clubs, discussions and shared reading groups. There is a community spirit<\/strong>,\u00a0 but also a desire for debate<\/strong> beyond the confines of a political landscape that, sadly, seems to have little to say about the future, such as the\u00a0 environment, employment, peace, social and civil rights, and equality. And the hope of a better future.<\/p>\n

In light of these considerations, the theme of the new Turin Book Fair<\/strong>, which opens in a few days’ time, seems perfectly apt:\u00a0 ‘The world saved by kids<\/strong>‘.<\/p>\n

The title is inspired by one of Elsa Morante<\/strong>\u2019s finest books: a collection of poems, songs, nursery rhymes, games, and reflections. It is a movement ‘against the hypocrisy of adults’, encouraging us to break down the barriers of power and selfishness.<\/p>\n

The title carries the weight of a glimmer of hope. The kids at the Book Fair could really bring its spirit to life.<\/p>\n

(photo by Giulia Travaglio)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2018I was learning so many things while I taught.\u00a0 For instance, that others’ problems are like mine. To come out of them together is good politics. To come out alone is stinginess.\u2019 This now famous passage appears in Letter to a Teacher by Don Lorenzo Milani, a seminal work on pedagogy, civic education and good […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":107486,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-corporate-culture"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe world saved by kids and the return of political passion - Fondazione Pirelli<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/127.0.0.1\/en\/corporate-culture\/the-world-saved-by-kids-and-the-return-of-political-passion\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The world saved by kids and the return of political passion - Fondazione Pirelli\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2018I was learning so many things while I taught.\u00a0 For instance, that others’ problems are like mine. 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