An original storytelling event was held today at the Rome Inail Headquarters to allow small entrepreneurs, teachers and experts to voice their opinions. They are now networked to promote the creative work of youths and a new image of craftsmanship through The Italian Makers. The multi-sector network will identify unused sites, kick off new activities, relaunch old trades with the support of new technology and promote a culture of prevention and safety to enrich the local social capital.

 

Mirta Michilli, Director General, Fondazione Mondo Digitale, ties together success stories, experiences and dreams as well a careful analysis of the critical factors in the sector. “We want to begin with schools – the main resource of all our initiatives, thanks to innovating teachers – to help students modify their mental framework,” explains Ms. Michilli. The Fondazione Mondo Digitale will coordinate the project partners and local activities.

 

Inail Lazio is a supporting partner thanks to the resolute interest of Regional Director Antonio Napolitano who imagines “Inail as part of a system that allows youth to follow their dreams and create jobs thanks to concrete tools.” Lorenzo Tagliavanti, Director, CNA Lazio, a project partner, has invited the many students present to follow their passions. “You will never meet artisans at the stock exchange or running financial speculations, but you will meet individuals who are happy and passionate about their work.”

 

The Italian Makers aims to influence the local productive system in the short term. “It’s a precious project for the future of the City,” emphasizes Rome Productivity Councilor Marta Leonori. “We have to introduce our city to the 21^st century, molding cultural heritage, history and innovation. Our youth needs more trust, but also tools. At present, these resources are very scant, but we can devise other solutions such as spaces, information channels, etc.”

 

The initiative will train 400 youths in a series of phases based on the “Life Education” model (knowledge, skills and values) developed by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale. Students will be taught the competences that are necessary to start an artisanal activity through laboratories to develop competences such as creativity, problem solving, communication, creation of a local community and a multi-sector network. Alfonso Molina, Professor of Technology Strategy at the University of Edinburgh and Scientific Director of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale has developed the project strategy: “craftsmen will mentor students on different trades on entrepreneurial activities. In turn, the students will have to be creative and use their acquired knowledge and digital know-how to imagine how to improve processes for these trades (i.e., marketing). This will help them learn a lot more about enterprise. “

 

Related project activities include an awareness-raising campaign to revamp the look and appeal of jobs based on manual activities, as this means not only “knowing how to do things,” but also, as Luca Iaia, National Coordinator CNA Young Entrepreneurs points out: “The future has changed … we grew up thinking about enterprises such as Ferrari and workers. Now, this is a minority point of view. We have to change the cultural paradigm and concentrate on micro-enterprises. Schools must now educate future Italians to …”  

 

Video maker Francesco Faralli produced a project presentation documentary.

 

 

See the event photogallery