Prof. Silvia Magistrini - Italy

A native of Verbania, Silvia Magistrini teaches literature at the Cavalieri High School of Verbania; she is the Local Minister for Education and Culture, as well as youth politics.

Since many years, she has been developing educational projects with the students of the Piemonte region schools, in memory of the Partisans, the Deportation and the Shoah. In collaboration with the survivors of the camps, she accompanies the students on educational journeys, as part of a regional contest which is promoted yearly.

As representative of the Local Authorities, she takes an instrumental part in the activities of “Local services for Peace” in order to promote a culture of peace in schools and in Cities.

Through the establishment of the “Local Youths Council”, in existence in Verbania since a few years, she generates and supports concrete action in compulsory school classes, to inspire the youngsters to live important and constructive experiences in the field of management and conflict resolution.

She is Professor of Literature at the University of the “Terza Età”
(Third Age), where she has been working for many years on inter cultural collaborations towards the promotion of a “wholesome” culture in a changing world.

She organizes the local Theatrical Seasons for the “Kids” theatre (since twenty years in existence), as well as “Literary cafés”. She collaborates in the organizing of the yearly Musical Season as well the other cultural activities promoted in the City.

She is a fervent advocate of the “Volunteer Culture” through “Mappamondo” , a project which introduces the various associations situated in the area and gives them the opportunity to meet with the students in their schools. This year alone, over 7’000 students had the opportunity to listen to and work with volunteers.

Praise to slowness. The Pedagogy of the snail

Passing from speed to slowness can be a good educational choice for the new generations, who are nowadays destined to following frenetic rhythms imposed by their surroundings, yet that however do not correspond to the spiritual, ethical and relational need for growth of today’s youngsters. Good relations require time, silence, and moreover the ability to truly listen as well as reciprocity.

Therefore, may we change our habits a little in order to be closer and more attentive to the new children, the adults of tomorrow. With this change we will also benefit ourselves, we will lose time to gain time, switch off images to acquire looks, nourish the silence of thought to grow moments of love and sharing. Another kind of world is possible.