The “Legality and Merit” project , conceived by Paola Severino, Vice President of Luiss Guido Carli, and promoted by the university, is now in its sixth edition. It aims to foster dialogue between university and high school students, combat educational poverty, and promote the values of legality, the fight against corruption, mutual respect, and the protection of the environment and culture, all while nurturing individual talent. On Tuesday, June 6, at 3:00 PM in the Aula Magna of the Viale Pola Campus, the winning ideas of the initiative will be presented by the Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara; the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini; the Minister of Justice, Carlo Nordio (via video message); the  Vice President of the Superior Council of Magistracy, Fabio Pinelli; the National Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor, Giovanni Melillo ; and the President of the National Anti-Corruption Authority , Giuseppe Busia.

From protecting the landscape to combating wrongdoing, from responsible internet use to fighting corruption, from integration and European citizenship to the exploitation of people and common goods, this year once again, students from all over Italy tackled a wide range of topics on combating illegality during the meetings. They were guided by exceptional mentors: the “Ambassadors of Legality” from Luiss. This year’s edition saw the participation of over 170 students from the university, a record number since the initiative began. There were 28 coordinators, including research fellows, doctoral students, and Luiss tutors, who facilitated the development of projects and ideas by young people from 12 educational institutions, 4 juvenile detention centers (Acireale, Caltanissetta, Bari, and Florence), and 4 social services offices for minors (Rome, Trieste, Naples, and Palermo). 

Three projects were awarded during the closing ceremony of “Legality and Merit.” On the podium: the video “Sounds and colors that extinguished my life,” from the “V. Capalbi” in Vibo Valentia, a story of hope against self-isolation, dedicated to the recovery of a girl with Hikikomori syndrome; the work of the Juvenile Detention Center in Bari,“ La stanza degli affetti,” which, through a video, proposes creating a place where young inmates can more easily meet with family and friends to cultivate personal relationships, combat emotional isolation, and facilitate reintegration; and finally, the audiobook “ Uniti nella diversità ” from the I.I.C. “S. Livi” in Prato, which highlights the importance of creating school classes that foster inclusion, to promote the principles of European citizenship among diverse cultures and nationalities.

“Legalità e Merito continues to promote the themes of justice and merit in schools, juvenile detention centers, and juvenile institutions, encouraging a productive dialogue among young people about the culture of legality and respect for the rules.  It always amazes me to see how ready young people are to embrace these messages, translate them into beautiful projects that encourage their implementation, and be influenced by them,” said Luiss Vice President Paola Severino, speaking about a new educational model focused on inclusion and the sharing of values that are more easily passed on from young people to young people.

<p class="s10"> Over the past six years, “Legalità e Merito” has already reached more than 4,200 students across Italy. Some of them, now enrolled at Luiss, have decided to once again participate in the project, this time as Ambassadors. This commitment is increasingly significant when compared to data released last December by the Central Directorate of the Criminal Police , which shows that in the post-pandemic period there was a surge in crimes committed by minors: 14.3% more minors were reported and arrested compared to the pre-pandemic period (Department of Public Security, Central Directorate of the Criminal Police, 2022 Final Report, Criminal Analysis).

The university has made scholarships available—two for the winning school and one for each of the other schools—to attend one of the Summer Schools starting next Monday, June 12. Luiss has also designed free educational activities for students at IPMs and USSMs, believing that all young people deserve equal opportunities for growth and learning.  

Over the years, Legalità e Merito has received support from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of University and Research, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, the National Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate , and the National Anti-Corruption Authority. The project ’s significance and tangible impact were  recognized internationally at the 2022 Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Awards, the global competition for innovation in education. The initiative was awarded third place in the Regional Award – Europe category.