ROME – A day filled with energy, ideas, and images reflecting the world through students’ eyes unfolded yesterday at the Rome Convention Center, famously known as ‘La Nuvola’. This marked the concluding ceremony of the “Schools Against Racism” competition, an initiative championed by the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital with the backing of the National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR), in collaboration with Roma Capitale and the association “Un ponte per”. Now in its second edition, the project brought to the stage works created by hundreds of young people.
A Project Focused on Inclusion
The competition is part of the Metropolitan City’s candidacy process for the UNESCO Learning Cities program and aligns with UNAR’s week of action against all racial discrimination, held around March 21. The objective is clear: to stimulate concrete reflection on a still-widespread phenomenon through public initiatives and direct involvement of schools.
Institutional Presence and Guests
The final day saw the participation of Rome’s Mayor and Metropolitan City, Roberto Gualtieri, and the Councillor for Equal Opportunities, Social Policies, Culture, Inclusion, and Anti-Corruption, Tiziana Biolghini, both key promoters of the project. Also present were UNAR Director Mattia Peradotto, former footballers Ubaldo Righetti and Cristian Daniel Ledesma, Iraqi human rights defender Omar Alamree, involved in the Shelter City program, and the Consuls of Tunisia, Morocco, and Moldova, all part of the consular network active in coexistence dialogues.
The Role of Schools, According to Gualtieri
In his address, the Mayor underscored the educational value of the initiative, describing schools as “laboratories of inclusion.” He highlighted how, in a context marked by intolerance and discrimination, educational institutions represent a space where respect and the appreciation of differences can flourish and become a model for adult society.
Gualtieri further emphasized the importance of dialogue and multiculturalism, defining it as an inevitable process. He also drew attention to the need to strengthen the presence of cultural mediators, crucial figures for ensuring effective communication between schools and families of diverse linguistic backgrounds. This objective, he explained, also requires adequate resource investment.
The Students’ Work and the Value of the Journey
Tiziana Biolghini also expressed enthusiasm, describing the short films as “true works of art,” capable of conveying values of sharing and humanity. The project engaged over a thousand students from schools across the territory, who participated in a three-month program of training and video production, carried out in collaboration with UNAR, director Salvatore Marino, and the “Un ponte per” association.
The Award-Winning Short Films
The competition saw participation from students of 33 middle schools in Rome and its province, tasked with creating short vertical films using their mobile phones. A total of 28 works were evaluated and awarded during the final day.
Among the winners were the Istituto Comprensivo via delle Alzavole with “Sulle orme dei giganti”, the Istituto Comprensivo via delle Carine with “Le parole”, both from Rome, and the Istituto Comprensivo Nettuno I with “Il colore delle parole”. Ten of the produced videos will also be featured at the International Cinecittà Festival, offering young creators further visibility.
