Legality and Merit: Young leaders standing against violence for a future of inclusion and justice
Combating violence and promoting social integration, while upholding the values of legality, sacrifice, and merit. The eighth edition of the Legality and Merit project has come to a close. The project was promoted by Luiss Guido Carli University through a memorandum of understanding with numerous institutions and was conceived by Professor Paola Severino, President of the Luiss School of Law.
“Legality is feeling at peace with the world and at peace with yourself,” summarized Paola Severino, quoting a young inmate. Speaking at the project’s closing ceremony, held in the Aula Magna on Viale Pola at the Luiss Campus, Professor Severino added: “It seemed to us the best way to address these issues: to ask young people to explain to their peers that you don’t succeed through connections, violence, or cunning, but through merit. Over time, sacrifice and passion enable you to achieve extraordinary results.”
Over 180 Luiss students took part in the project, selected to serve as “Ambassadors of Legality” and collaborate with hundreds of high school students from across Italy, as well as those from Juvenile Correctional Facilities (IPMs), Juvenile Social Service Offices (USSMs), Ministerial Communities, and, for the first time, a First Reception Center. The goal was to build bridges of legality, inclusion, and a future.
The final projects resulting from this discussion were presented during the closing ceremony. Tied for first place were the rap track “(This)Onore” from the “Silvio Paternostro” Juvenile Detention Center in Catanzaro, which tackles stereotypes about organized crime in Calabria, and the short film “Oltre il silenzio… Testimoni di coraggio!” from the “Giovanni Falcone” High School in Palazzolo sull'Oglio, which was inspired by direct conversations with witnesses and victims of gender-based violence.
Once again this year, thanks to the support of the Enel Foundation, Luiss has provided scholarships for young participants to enroll in the university’s courses, continuing to build a future based on legality and merit. In addition, Luiss has made scholarships available for Summer Schools.