Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, April 12th, 2019. Past Mayors (12) look over the new generation as represented by a reflective Michelle in the Town Hall before the Adult Council. As spokesperson for local Children she prepares to make her point about a project focused on human rights developed together with the educators at the Children’s Council. Through a series of meetings together with migrant teens living in the town, mutual friendship and respect have been strengthened, beginning with the study of constitutional rights and moving on to the sharing of universal rights.
Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, June 6th, 2019. Michelle (12) as Children’s Council spokesperson is preparing to take part in the Senior assembly with the Mayor for the 73rd anniversary of the Italian Republic foundation (1946). They will give a copy of the Italian Republic Constitution to all 18-year-olds living in the town. “This is a symbolic gesture since the Constitution has existed since before you were born”, underlines the Adult Mayor. A knowledge of the core values of a democratic country is essential to all citizens when acquiring the right to vote. Only 1 % of Italian Municipalities have this kind of children’s democratic body in which the young citizens start absorbing the values of democracy from childhood. This is not the divisive politics of the left and the right but the politics of productive debate. Not long from now, they could play an active role in shaping their future.
Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, April 25th, 2018. Michelle (11) and her 84-year- old grandfather, an ex-soldier, embrace as they remember those who died to bring freedom to their community. They are surrounded by the Italian Alpine troops on Liberation Day. She takes part in the street parade of her town as Deputy Mayor and pays tribute to the victims of WWII who fought for freedom. The values of tradition and family are fundamental. These children want their history to be never forgotten because it teaches the values of peace and free coexistence among peoples by the older surviving members of their local community. Their grandparents pass down stories of heroism and teach the younger members about how we owe our freedom to soldiers in past battles.
Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, March 16th, 2019. Michelle (12) guides young migrants towards a new future, learning together about the Italian Constitution in the historical places of the town. This is the aim of a project developed by the educators in the Children’s Councils. They study and learn the 12 fundamental articles in which everyone is united under the same flag: the freedom of religion, tolerance, principles of equality, integration, peace and the right to work and study. These are the fundaments of a country governed by a democratic organization of power. In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”
Bologna, ITA, Piazza Maggiore, The Town Hall, Palazzo D'Accursio, May 24th, 2018. 11 year-old Michelle, Deputy Mayor of the Children City Council of Castel San Pietro Terme, looking through her report on the social activities carried out in 2018 during the annual debate in the local Children’s Parliament. A 10-year-old Michelle was elected as Deputy Mayor in 2017, and as Mayor in 2019. The elections were held in the local schools first and subsequently in the Town Hall. It was a secret ballot. At least once a month the Children City Council has a meeting where the children together with the educators can develop ideas, exchange approaches and discuss freely in compliance with the democratic rules. Many proposals have been put forward. In this way, the children are taking an active part in the social life of their town. The values of democracy are absorbed from childhood, between dreams for the future and politics. Education is fundamental to the protection of democracy.
Genoa, ITA, June 10, 2018. Michelle (11) stands in front of the bookshop at the Palazzo Rosso Museum where she admired the collections of frescoes of the 17th-century Genoese art and the painting exhibition of many famous Italian and foreign artists such as Guercino and Van Dyck. The palace along with the galleries of Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria Tursi. is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the historical center of Genoa, Northwestern Italy. Michelle visited the in the baroque residential site with her family and friends over a weekend. Michelle is growing as a typical little girl, bursting with positivity and passions and taking part in the social life of her small town
Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, Dicember 1st, 2018. At home, Michelle (12) is feeding the fishes in the name of Sebastian and Goldfish, her new friends to dreams of. Her grandmother Gianna won the two red fishes in a local charity lottery. She is going to the theatre for her last performance at the "Zecchino d'oro", an International children song festival which is broadcast on television.
Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, November 11th, 2017. Michelle (11) has just finished her side-blowing flute class at the School of Music in Castel San Pietro Terme. She has been attending flute classes since she was six and she dreams of playing the flute in her small town official band together with her father Paride who is playing the trumpet. Michelle uses to cover her eye with the flute while she is studying the score. I asked Michelle a portrait at the end of the lesson. On December 2019 she fully joined the Official Band of the town.
Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, November 25th, 2017. Michelle (11) helps her great-grandmother Nerina, 93-years-old. They are preparing 'tortellini', homemade pasta, in the basement room of her grandparents' home. Grandmother Gianna gives them the last egg. Michelle is closely tied to family traditions. 'Tortellini' is her favorite dish, one of the symbols of the region where she lives. She wants to make sure that local traditions, such as homemade pasta and the local dialect, don't fade into the past.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Belluno, ITA, April 1st, 2018. Michelle (11) has a snack in the afternoon, a ritual much loved by her, especially after skiing. Michelle and her parents are spending the Easter Holiday on the Dolomites at a friends’ house. Michelle loves the beauty of nature and she wants to take part in the fight to preserve the environment.
Shanghai, CHN, December 29th, 2017. Michelle (11) is relaxing in the bathtub of her room at the InterContinental Shanghai Expo Hotel. She has just performed with the Little Choir of Antoniano at the Children's Art Theatre in Shanghai. Tickets for the concerts were immediately sold out in China. That’s why Michelle has so many Chinese friends. They are the citizens of tomorrow. They identify with the concept of internationalism and globalism dreaming they can shape the world in the next future.
Castel San Pietro Terme, BO, ITA, September 22, 2018. Michelle (12) is sitting at the wedding party of her singing teacher Mrs. Laura. She has just sung as solo voice the Benedictat lyric for the religious ceremony in the church.
Budrio, Bologna, ITA, April 6, 2019. Valentina is arranging Michelle's hair (12) at the children’s clothing shop of her mother. The young girls tried on a lot of dresses, accessories and shoes they will wear for the fashion show in the main square of the town the following Sunday. Valentina is one of Michelle’s fashion friend.
Savio, RA, Italy, July 23, 2018. Michelle (11) is getting off the carousel at the end of a day spent experimenting the attractions at Mirabilandia, the largest amusement Park in Italy. Michelle is a typical little girl bursting with positivity and passion. She needs to organize her time to the second because of her commitments. She wants to take part in the fight against plastic pollution and one of her idols is Boyan Slat, the young Dutch inventor and entrepreneur who is the founder and CEO of ‘The Ocean Cleanup’ that develops advanced systems to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.
Michelle is obviously hugely inspired by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg who she considers special not only for what she says and does but also in the way she speaks to the world’s most powerful politicians.
Paris, FR, July 12th, 2019. Michelle (12) is intensely admiring the landscape walking on Montmartre at sunset. Michelle is visiting Paris for the second time with her parents. Michelle love to travel abroad experiencing new countries and cultures and learning other languages. She can speak fluently English, Spanish and Cinese which give her the opportunity to engage with the world in a more and meaningful way. She usually love to taste local food and to buy a book about local tradition. Michelle is a citizen of the world.
