Italy2

The European Year of The European Year of Intercultural Intercultural

Dialogue 2008 in Dialogue 2008 in ItalyItaly

• Italy is part of the 'European Italy is part of the 'European Union' which is composed by Union' which is composed by 27 European States, the 27 European States, the 'member' states. It is a 'member' states. It is a community based on peace and community based on peace and mutual support principles. mutual support principles. Personally I think that the best Personally I think that the best way to live in Europe and to be way to live in Europe and to be a European citizen is to be a European citizen is to be kind, to share resources, to be kind, to share resources, to be curious about different curious about different languages, to love nature, to languages, to love nature, to appreciate styles, peaceful appreciate styles, peaceful traditions and religions; traditions and religions; diversity is a richness.diversity is a richness.

•The photos refer to the school I worked last year (Northern Tiber Valley)The photos refer to the school I worked last year (Northern Tiber Valley)

• During the European Day usually During the European Day usually we welcome young volunteers we welcome young volunteers coming from different countries coming from different countries in Europe: Germany, Belgium, in Europe: Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Sweden... They teach us about Sweden... They teach us about their countries, habits, their countries, habits, languages. When they are 18 languages. When they are 18 years old they ask for a money years old they ask for a money grant to the European grant to the European Commission and they can live and Commission and they can live and volunteer in another European volunteer in another European country 6 months to one year. country 6 months to one year. This year we welcomed volunteers This year we welcomed volunteers from Portugal, Austria and Latvia.from Portugal, Austria and Latvia.

•The photos refer to the school I worked last year (Northern Tiber Valley)The photos refer to the school I worked last year (Northern Tiber Valley)

• This is the This is the European European Union flag.Union flag.

• A symbol A symbol that refers that refers to Harmony to Harmony and Peace and Peace among among people and people and communitiescommunities..

PEACE ON PEACE ON PLANET PLANET EARTH!!EARTH!!

• The European Year of The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 is a Intercultural Dialogue 2008 is a project developed by the project developed by the European Union. Every European Union. Every Community, every school is Community, every school is invited to reflect about diversity invited to reflect about diversity in our continent and in the world in our continent and in the world and to propose events, projects, and to propose events, projects, initiatives to stress the BASIC initiatives to stress the BASIC importance of mutual respect, importance of mutual respect, consideration, friendship.consideration, friendship.

• As 'Human Beings' we can act for As 'Human Beings' we can act for peace concretely and we can 'Walk peace concretely and we can 'Walk in The Beauty' (an American in The Beauty' (an American Indians say) with Innocence and Indians say) with Innocence and Dignity. Yellow, Red, Black or Dignity. Yellow, Red, Black or White, We are all brothers and White, We are all brothers and sisters and everything is sisters and everything is interconnected in Life. If we hurt a interconnected in Life. If we hurt a tree we hurt ourselves and if we tree we hurt ourselves and if we cause damage to air, water, cause damage to air, water, animals, we cause damage to animals, we cause damage to ourselves.ourselves. If we love nature we are If we love nature we are happy and healthy.happy and healthy.

• This year we conceived and developed various iThis year we conceived and developed various intercultural activities because it is beautiful to ntercultural activities because it is beautiful to sit in a circle of peace, watching other colours asit in a circle of peace, watching other colours and listen to other peaceful styles and teachings.nd listen to other peaceful styles and teachings.

We dialogued with various Communities: JewisWe dialogued with various Communities: Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist-Tibetan, Indigenous (Lakoh, Muslim, Buddhist-Tibetan, Indigenous (Lakota); we organized a school event in May calledta); we organized a school event in May called 'Play the World' in our beautiful park. We are t 'Play the World' in our beautiful park. We are twinned to various schools in the World and we winned to various schools in the World and we enjoy it so much!!enjoy it so much!!

• And finally a wonderful mural painting tAnd finally a wonderful mural painting that we had the honour to complete thanhat we had the honour to complete thanks to our sister school "Hathaway Browks to our sister school "Hathaway Brown", Shaker Heights, Cleveland, Ohio (USn", Shaker Heights, Cleveland, Ohio (USA) - Prof. Carol Sphar.A) - Prof. Carol Sphar.

• What do you thing you can do as What do you thing you can do as children for peace on our Planet children for peace on our Planet and what are you already doing?and what are you already doing?

In Friendship and Peace,In Friendship and Peace,

AndreaAndrea