An evening of celebration with the families and communities of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale
The closing event of the initiatives marking the 25th anniversary of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, “Knowledge that Connects”, took place on Saturday evening, 24 October, at the Città Educativa headquarters, at 102 Via del Quadraro, in Rome. The heart and headquarters of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, the driving force behind its initiatives, opened its doors to the community for a day of celebration.
The evening was divided into several parts: initially, the Innovation Workshop hosted pupils from two Year 4 classes at the Antonio Giordano Institute in Venafro for a workshop on career guidance and programming. “We set off very early this morning and, even though it’s a Saturday, the pupils were delighted to come to Rome for a different kind of experience,” commented teacher Romana Lucarelli. “After learning some programming basics, the pupils, divided into groups, devised prototypes inspired by the theme of the high cost of living,” added Michele Fiore, an IT teacher who has been working with the organisation for many years. Alessandro, from Class IV C, described how stimulating it was to break up the weekend routine with a programming experience in Rome, whilst his classmate Giada was very impressed by the practical challenge, which represents a step forward from a purely theoretical approach to learning.
Meanwhile, the response from Roman families was warm: parents and children put themselves to the test with robotics and digital fabrication workshops: “I was curious to discover this place not far from my neighbourhood; I was able to see the laser-cutting machine in action. My children, encouraged and guided by the trainers from the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, had a great time,” said Caterina, mother of Tindaro and Aurora, and a teacher.
The evening’s musical session was particularly moving, preceded by greetings from figures closely associated with the Foundation: the president, Renato Brunetti, thanked the entire staff, paying special tribute to the women of the Foundation, as did Mirta Michilli, the director-general. The headteacher, Alessia Lo Bosco, emphasised the value of the Foundation’s work, which supports the school in meeting today’s challenges. In particular, she recalled the Covid period, when she was working at the nearby Gigi Proietti School, and the Foundation’s close support for the school, the pupils and their families, including its assistance with distance learning. Riccardo Benini, who has been headteacher of the same school for a year, said he was delighted to have hosted the celebration in the school courtyard and to be a ‘neighbour’ to an organisation such as the Foundation. He also expressed his gratitude for the work carried out in the local area, alongside the educational community. The President of the 7th Municipality, Francesco Laddaga, who was present alongside the Councillor for Culture, Riccardo Sbordoni, noted that “the right to knowledge today depends on digital literacy amongst the youngest children, which is essential for limiting the risks of technology being used incorrectly. The Foundation has introduced me to many important projects, made possible by its commitment”.
Alfonso Molina shared a particularly moving account of the organisation’s origins, recounting some passages from the book dedicated to his life and the new direction his personal story took following his meeting with Mirta Michilli.
Another moving moment was the tribute to Titin Molina, the Chilean singer-songwriter who wrote the Foundation’s anthem. The Foundation’s staff dedicated the song to him, and it was played for the occasion. The evening then continued with a performance by the band and a closing DJ set. The extraordinary Claudia Belella, who works as a project officer at the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, demonstrated remarkable singing talent by performing Zombie, the hit by The Cranberries.
