On Saturday, November 23, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Borghetto Santo Spirito will host the inaugural Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights Festival on Via Trilussa. The Department of Public Education and Sports, in collaboration with Municipal Social Policies, aims to highlight the significance of children’s and teenagers’ rights. This initiative marks a pivotal date: November 20, 1989, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human rights treaty with 196 signatory countries.
Recently, the municipality joined the Go Blue initiative by ANCI and UNICEF, illuminating the Italian Constitution monument in Piazza Libertà in blue. Embracing UNICEF’s message, “Listen to the Future,” Borghetto Santo Spirito seeks to engage children and adolescents, fostering intergenerational dialogue to ensure the rights of all minors.
The festival will feature various sports activities, workshops, and games for children and teenagers. The Ligurian committee of UNICEF will participate, along with regional president Maria Caterina Porcu, provincial president of Savona Veronica Cocumazzo, and numerous volunteers who will distribute informational materials and organize activities with young people.
The activities will take place at the Palasport Ugo Magnetto, the adjoining tensile structure, the outdoor sports area, the primary and lower secondary school, the front garden, and Via Trilussa. These activities are open to everyone, fostering inclusion. Participants can enjoy gymnastics, volleyball, table tennis, soccer, bocce, roller skating, circus arts, flag football, tennis, athletics, and even discover the secrets of sailing. Additionally, there will be a chance to rediscover the game of cyclo-tap, join activities at the Youth Center, and have fun with the ludobus.
At the Civic Library, during the “Read to Remember” event, visitors can listen to readings both loud and soft, browse books, and leave messages on the Tree of Ideas, an initiative to gather thoughts for the adult world. These activities honor the memory of Francesco Langella, a historic librarian at the E. De Amicis Library in Genoa and a key figure for Borghetto Santo Spirito.
Simultaneously, the Open Day at the Primary and Lower Secondary School will offer a variety of activities such as chess, art workshops, creative studios, theatrical improvisation, educational robotics, ceramics, and the Book Creator. The Sports Curvature students will also participate, ready to collaborate with the involved associations.
Within the school, the Municipality will amplify the voices of the youth through the video CIVITAS, produced by the cultural association Kronoteatro of Albenga, to be showcased in the Ideas Workshop Space. Created by the youth of Borghetto Santo Spirito last year, the project was supported by the municipal social policies under the Ideas Workshop – Well-being in the Community initiative. This effort aims to gather suggestions from young citizens on how to enhance the community.
The initiative involves several associations and groups, including the Regional Committee Unicef Liguria and the Communal Children’s Library Kaleidos. The Ludobus Giocosamente and A.S.D. Colombofila Borghetto are also participants. Additionally, the A.S.D. FC Borghetto 1968, A.S.D. Gymnastics and Dance Borghetto, and the Naval League Borghetto S. Spirito contribute with their activities. The A.S.D. Atletica Arcobaleno, A.S.D. Bocciofila Loanese, and A.S.D. Genoa City Group and Italian Cycle Tap Game Federation are part of the project. Also included are the Savona Skaters and Roller Sambart. Lastly, the A.S.D. Tennis and Educational Sport A. Zizzini Loano, Toirano, and Association ADGP A.P.S. round out the group of participants.
In line with the principles of the Italian Constitution and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Municipality of Borghetto Santo Spirito is committed to raising awareness among young people about being bearers of rights that must be protected and respected by all. During the event on Saturday, November 23, the focus will not only be on celebrating these rights but also on providing an opportunity to engage in sports and educational games, emphasizing inclusion and global participation. Adults will be encouraged to gather insights and suggestions from the young.
The Councillor (Assessore) for Education and Sport and the Delegate for Social Policies, Celeste Lo Presti and Mariacarla Calcaterra, expressed gratitude to the Regional Unicef Committee, the Val Varatella Comprehensive Institute, sports associations, and all the entities that contributed to the event’s realization.