🇮🇹 Consiglio della Provincia Autonoma di Trento
“Ci Pensiamo Noi” (“We got it!”)
10/01/2022 – 17/05/2022
Type of initiative
Other
Short description of the initiative
For several years, the activities of divulgation and promotion of the functions of the Provincial Council of Trento have been carried out through “guided tours” aimed at increasing knowledge of the history, traditions and culture of our region. For the school year 2021-2022, the Council launched a new project, entitled “Ci pensiamo noi, Percorsi di autonomia responsabile per il Trentino”, that has seen the participation of four classes belonging to three different high schools of our territory: the “Maffei” High School located in Riva del Garda, the Prati High School based in Trento and the socio-health Professional Institute Don Milani of Rovereto. The project encourages young people to play an active role in the life of the community by drafting a proposal addressing an issue related to one of the seventeen goals included in the Sustainable Development strategy promoted by the United Nations. The schools were asked to identify a theme or a problem, which, with the support of the Council structures and the offices of the Autonomous Province of Trento, was further analysed and explored. At the end of the process, three projects were born, concerning different topics and with different objectives.
The goal of “Ci pensiamo noi!” (in English “We got it!”) is to spread knowledge and to introduce young people to provincial politics, at the same time promoting European and democratic values and demonstrating that citizens can make a difference.
Main features of the initiative
The laboratory was organized in two different phases:
First phase:
In this first phase the classes elaborated the proposals and presented the title of their project to the offices of the Council. Each class had to draft a proposal, collect data and information related to the topic and finally create a video summarizing the objective and result of their research. During all phases of the project, each class was assigned and supported by one of the three young people in civil service at the Provincial Council who, acting as tutors, helped and organized meetings with provincial offices and institutes.
The “Maffei” High School of Riva del Garda (TN) presented a project entitled “Renewable energies in public buildings.”
This experience allowed students to study the European, national and provincial regulatory references that regulate the use of renewable energy in public buildings, and to identify possible strategies for improvement. During this first phase, the fifth class was able to talk with the experts and engineers of the Water and Energy Agency of the Province of Trento.
The Socio-Health Professional Institute “Don Milani” of Rovereto (TN) presented the project entitled “The preamble to the Statute of Autonomy.”
The idea of the students was to try to create, on the basis of the documents already published, a preamble to the Statute of Autonomy of the Autonomous Region of Trentino – Alto Adige/South Tyrol. After a careful study of the subject and a reflection on the working method to be adopted, the class chose to write the preamble resembling the fundamental principles enshrined in the Italian Constitution.
The “Prati” High School of Trento presented a project concerning provincial and municipal youth policies, entitled “Trento, a city for young people!”. The initiative was carried out by two classes of the institute, each focusing on a certain task. A group of students drew up a survey, to be administered among the school students. Its results showed that young people are unsatisfied with the initiatives and spaces provided for them by the city of Trento. On the other hand, the second class focused on analysing the services that municipal and provincial youth policies already provide. The final phase of the project was characterized by the analysis and re-elaboration of the data collected.
Second phase:
The second phase was characterized by the presentation of the papers in the Council Hall. On May 17th, the classes of the four classes came to the Council Hall of Trento to present their proposals to the president of the Provincial Council, the Presidential Office and the assessors responsible for energy and education. Each school had 20 minutes to present their proposal: firstly, they had to explain the motivation for choosing that particular theme and then suggested a viable solution to solve the issue. After each presentation, the assessors and the President of the Council commented on the work done by the classes, congratulating them on the excellent results and for the deep commitment. At the end of the presentations the proposals were handed over to the Council Presidency representatives.
The purpose of this project lies in the desire to innovate the teaching method by promoting students’ participation and activism. This approach proved to be successful: it favoured students critical thinking and helped them to develop an idea, in a logic of cooperation, dialogue and responsibility. Responsibility means not only elaborating an idea but understanding the context in which it evolves, understanding the limitations, opportunities and the mechanisms needed to promote it.
Moreover, this laboratory encouraged young generations to make their voice heard, participate in political life, identify reliable information, use the findings to elaborate opinions, promote democratic value, and last but not least, explore the history and role of the precious autonomy of our province.”
Role of the assembly in the success of the initiative
The Provincial Council of Trento promoted the initiative in collaboration with the “Museo Storico del Trentino Foundation”. The two entities shared the need to boost the participation of young generations to the political and public life. The workshop was designed precisely to present proposals to the Legislative Assembly aimed ad finding viable solutions to relevant issues. The project saw the participation of the assessors competent in the matters dealt, making the workshop not only a way to get involved in the institutional context, but also to bring relevant and important contributions to the Assembly. The Council also took advantage of the cooperation of the three young people in civil service at the Provincial Council to organize the activities in the council room.
In addition, the Council:
- collaborated in the elaboration of materials and organized the meetings with the provincial offices;
- provided the spaces and the means necessary for the realization of the project;
- through the Press Office, promoted and publicized the project on local TV and social media;
- bore all the expenses of the project.
European orientation of the initiative
The European Union proclaimed 2022 the European Year of Youth. As described on the EYY2022 website, “The initiative will put the spotlight on the importance of Europe’s youth in building a better future: greener, more inclusive and more digital.” We often see decision-makers referring to youth as the future of our societies, but then they end up forgetting to get an opinion from them when it’s time to take important decisions. In this regard, the Council of Trento decided to give the chance to young generations to play an active role in the community and to be the voice and agent of change by participating to this innovative experience. The enhancement of dialogue between students and institutions constitutes a fundamental element to build sustainable and fair societies. These kinds of activities allowed students to learn about the different ways European citizens can express their opinions and participate in political life not only in local and national institutions, but also at the international level, in the European Union’s framework.
Documentation
