It is always complex to introduce oneself, so I will just write down a few pieces of information: my name is Giorgia; they are aprofessional educator, which I think is the most beautiful job in the world; I love the mountains, and particularly cliff climbing, despite being particularly poor at it; I think I could not live without music; I dream of a world with more bridges and fewer walls, or rather a world without walls, and I do what I can to build it. This need has become central to my life year after year, transforming into an urgency to experience more and more moments of encounter connected to the great theme of human mobility.

In 2019 with my super friend Fra we decided to join this great and diverse reality of More Bridges Less Walls (the Intercultural Youth Animation of ASCS), participating in the Io Ci Sto camp in Puglia, during which we talked about the phenomenon of caporalato and labor exploitation in agriculture, specifically on tomato plantations in Borgo Mezzanone.

We spent the afternoons of that week in Pista, around which over the years a veritable informal town of slums and makeshift dwellings in which seasonal laborers live has been built. Here the two activities carried out by us volunteers were Italian school and cycle workshop, the latter essential in order to save the money that would have been needed for the steps up to the camps. It was one of those experiences that resonates inside in daily life, touching deeper and stronger chords, that pushed me not to stop here.

Two years later, I participated, again with the very faithful Fra, in Through Cosenza, the first camp experiment in the city, focused on transculturalism and composed of a truly colorful circle of volunteers from around the world, a profound richness of this experience. At the end of the week, I asked if I could join the group of activists who throughout the year think of initiatives to offer in their own cities, in addition to summer camp weeks.

Over the years the projects have increased, because as Jonas says, More Bridges Less Walls is an incubator of dreams, and the only way to really change our society is to dream together, creating more and more sparks of humanity (also Jonas’ slogan, thank you).

I have had several other experiences, this time as a staff, accompanying groups to weekend Border in Oulx and Trieste and at the weeks of Through to Trieste that led me to orient my thesis work precisely on the issue of the Italian borders of Ventimiglia, Oulx, and Trieste: the border cannot leave indifferent, the border is the utmost representation of all the injustices promoted by a system of discriminatory policies in stark contrast to the solidarity realities that give support to transiting people, restoring their dignity as human beings and trying as much as possible to fill an institutional void.

Alongside the direct experience of borders, with Anna, an activist and great friend, we brought the first Crossover in Venice, which was well attended demonstrating the need to create spaces for discussion and opportunities to talk about migration; in this case it was possible through the voices of Anna and Diego founders of the association Along the Balkan Route.

Finally in September this year I took part in the project Pick Your Size, which aims to bring workshops focused on freedom of movement and human mobility to schools through interactive activities.

I hope to be able to continue to be an active part of this magical reality, with the desire that such experiences and encounters will lead more and more people to feel the deep need to take a stand and be on the right side of history, since we have the privilege of being able to choose to do so. Plus being part of More Bridges Less Walls – ASCS really gives me confidence in the possibility of promoting change that puts people as such at the center, without stigma and racism, recognizing their inherent richness as human beings.

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