Fattore J, a unique way of talking to young people

Professor Francesca Beltrami teaches philosophy and human sciences at the Istituto Maria Immacolata in Gorgonzola (Milan), an officially recognised school that welcomes pupils from 24 months to 18 years of age (with the final cycle of the Liceo delle Scienze Applicate and the Liceo delle Scienze Umane). The teacher is also deputy coordinator of the primary school and since 2000, as a careers advisor, she has been involved in careers guidance and in-company training (now Pcto). This is precisely why she followed the pupils in their fourth year of high school who participated in Fattore J for two editions, choosing it as a project together with her colleague Luigi Ronciglia. The teacher was the tutor of Greta Onnis, who, with two classmates, created the project ‘Pillole di consapevolezza’ (Pills of awareness). The project was awarded in 2023 ‘for having best represented the awareness on the topic of oncology and the experience of patients and caregivers in dealing with the disease’.

The teacher's first comment reveals great enthusiasm for the initiative created with Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine: ‘I was very impressed because over the years I have been able to see, in all the Fattore J events, the quality of communication, the care taken by the professionals who are responsible for informing, communicating and giving visibility to the events. This is also a testimony in the eyes of the students participating in the project, a unique way of talking to young people’.

You have participated in two editions of the project. What motivated you to accept the proposal?
Fattore J is a demanding and challenging project, we are proud to present this kind of programme to students, where nothing is left to chance. An initiative like this fits perfectly with the guidelines of the PCTO established by the Ministry of Education: the student is involved on a holistic level, that is to say completely, as a unique person with his or her own energy and interests. The project first offers training on a specific topic, then an encounter with patient and family associations, without neglecting contact with health experts, and the possibility of producing a final project. It is an immersive experience for the individual but also a group effort. The planning of the course, the continuous monitoring, the final visibility for the work presented were some of the most interesting elements. Putting oneself to the test in developing communication content, in the case of the 2022-2023 edition a social media campaign, was important. The students understood that theirs was considered a serious project, published on external platforms and with its own visibility. The final stages of the award ceremony were also significant for us, face-to-face meetings in which we saw different professionals at work, from the photographer to the journalist, right down to the video operator, with important equipment and well-calculated timing. The reports that we then read on the Fondazione Mondo Digitale channels showed us how to communicate effectively today, and this also played a role in guiding the young people for their future.
 

In the 2023 edition of Fattore J there was a lot of talk about how illness should not define people and this led to the ‘Pillole di consapevolezza’ (Awareness pills) project, selected by the jury for the ‘video’ category. Can you tell us how this idea came about between Greta and her classmates, and how important is personal storytelling on such sensitive topics?
I have been Greta Onnis's tutor since the third year of secondary school. In fourth year, when the Fattore J proposal arrived, my colleague Luigi Ronciglia and I immediately seized the opportunity. We realised that we were being offered not only the chance to study the disease but also to talk about its psychological effects on patients and their families. And for this very reason we dedicated extra hours to the project, over and above what was required by the teaching programme. On this occasion, Greta decided to open up and talk about her medical history, with a great act of trust. It was the first time she had told her class about this part of herself and we decided to organise a lesson on Friday morning, without first warning her classmates. We were all extremely impressed by the story and above all by the generosity with which Greta exposed herself. We witnessed this girl grow as she publicly faced her illness, with an important realisation. She was the driving force of the class, motivating everyone with her strength and personality. To conclude this experience, Greta published a book that also talks about her participation in Fattore J.

Fattore J has evolved over time. In the past it focused on prevention and awareness of certain diseases. This year, as you saw in the event dedicated to the journey of the drug in Milan, there is a lot of attention to the innovation side. The students had the opportunity to better understand the production processes in the health sector. How did they react?
First of all, having participated in two face-to-face events is a nice change from the past. We were involved on 11 December in the presentation of Fattore J at the National Cancer Institute in Milan and on 3 February for the meeting on the journey of the drug at the J&J headquarters. To generate interest, I think it's important to prepare and motivate students at an early stage. For example, on 3 February I was accompanied by the natural sciences teacher who has also worked in the pharmaceutical world. Our students were fully aware of everything. A dense and fast-paced event, without any flaws, with an interdisciplinary approach: showing the students how to go from the slide to experimentation, up to the final launch of the drug means presenting different professions: the chemist, the doctor, the lawyer. We also appreciated J&J's proposal on the use of AI, which does not replace the doctor, but facilitates diagnosis. One last aspect: the presence of female professionals was a strong message for the girls. I am referring to the women involved in patient associations, researchers, oncologists...

For you, who are very close to the world of young people, do you think projects like Fattore J can encourage our young people to play a more active and participatory role in society?
On these occasions, young people have the opportunity to understand that science not only heals people but also ensures the development of critical thinking, allowing them to learn from mistakes (trial and error) and, therefore, ensures the possibility of a democratic society. It is the exact opposite of attitudes born of scepticism and ignorance. Factor J gives us the opportunity to understand what science should do for people's lives. An important educational value.

Interview by Onelia Onorati, press office of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale