On 25th November, 2024, at the Palazzo Alvaro in Reggio Calabria, the UNESCO Italo Club for Reggio organised a stimulating symposium regarding the UNESCO Chairs throughout the world. The conference was held under the patronage of the Metropolitan City of Reggio. Mrs. Maria Gabriella Mieli, Public Relations Director, UPF Italy, and Coordinator, UPF South Europe, was invited to give an intervention at the conference on behalf of UPF.
Ms. Teresa Gualtieri, National President of FICLU (Italian Federation of Associations and Clubs for Unesco), introduced the proceedings. She stressed the importance, not always considered, of the UNESCO Chairs and how they maintain a healthy relationship with the Universities of the world where the relative Chairs are active; how they generate immediate cultural advantages to the cities that host them which, in turn, adds to their importance and merit.
Mr. Giovanni Latella, Reggio City Councillor and delegate for Culture, offered greetings on behalf of the Municipality of Reggio. He was grateful for the increase in tourism due to the commitment of the UNESCO Chairs in the area. This was evidently the result of cultural exchange programmes that took place between cities that host the Chairs.
Following was Mr. Alberto Gioffrè, President of the Reggio UNESCO Club; President Emeritus of the historic Environmental NGO, Kronos 1972; and Ambassador for Peace for the Universal Peace Federation (UPF). He illustrated the role of each UNESCO Chair within the social context and its relationship with UNESCO. He explained the tasks of the Chair, which are mainly researches done, almost always, in cooperation with other Chairs whom they are linked with by the UNITWIN Network. Mr. Gioffrè continued by explaining the organisational system of each Chair, which releases the CFU, an academic credit to determine the workload required of a student to complete a course. He described the constructive and proactive relationship that a UNESCO Chair inevitably has with the entire community, and the prestigious role assumed by the city hosting a UNESCO Chair. Mr. Gioffrè ended his speech by pointing out that the subject most covered by all Chairs was the one UNESCO itself held the greatest importance to: the promotion of a Culture of Peace.
Taking the floor next was Ms. Maria Gabriella Mieli, Head of External and International Relations of UPF Italy, and Coordinator of UPF Southern Europe. Citing the organisation’s mantra, "Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Shared Universal Values", she recalled the correlation between UPF and UNESCO, pointing out how the activities of the Federation were always aimed towards the construction of Peace. She then spoke about the global Ambassadors for Peace project - men and women, leaders in the community, who encourage both active citizens and institutions to work together, sharing values, principles and their own experience, in an interdisciplinary and multicultural ambience, so as to achieve the best result ever: peace with oneself, with one's neighbour, and with the environment.
Mr. Salvatore Mongiardo, Scholar of the New Pythagorean School, focused on the theme of true Peace and how fundamentally important it is to completely abandon all weapons. He referred to the ancient history of the First Italy, when noble populations lived together in peace and then saw the arrival of migrants (Greeks) and rulers (from the Bruzi to the Piedmontese), who nevertheless, merged with the locals, giving life to a cosmopolitan society, currently almost marginalised by the rest of Italy. He also underlined the positive role that women could have in a future, healthier, and more balanced world.
The event then entered the second part, dedicated to the UNESCO Chair Project in Human Sciences, Sustainable Development and Cultural Peace, which process was extensively illustrated by Mr. Alberto Gioffrè. He covered its history, from the 2010 study presented to the Mediterranean University to the candidacy submitted by the Dante Alighieri University in 2018. Then reaching the time of the historic approval by UNESCO in 2020 and the partnerships with four Universities, from Spain, Chile, Poland, Georgia.
Mr. Gerardo Pontecorvo, Operations Coordinator of Re Italo, covered the current topic, linked precisely to development: water resources and climate change.
Ms. Susanna Quattrone, President of Kronos 1972 and Vice President of the Reggio UNESCO Club, touched on the entrepreneurial and work aspects. She also mentioned the great potential of students and the professional and employment prospects of the candidates who follow the programmes of a UNESCO Chair.
Ms. Rosa Veccia, Councilor of the Re Italo Club, drew attention to the members of the Chair; their character and their work within the community. She applauded the rigorous and dedicated endeavours of the Study and Work Group that also received the coveted acknowledgment by the Chair Project for Reggio.
The last speech was given by Mr. Alessandro Gioffrè d’Ambra who spoke about his teaching experiences at the Universities of the Strait. He recalled the excitement and interest of the students at the thought of the institution of a UNESCO Chair and the international cultural exchanges that would result from it.
Members of the audience asked how it was possible to achieve real peace between nations when there was such a rampant waste of money everywhere. They questioned why enormous sums are being squandered to encourage mutual destruction, rather than provide for the establishment of decent living conditions for the entire human population of the world.
In answer, the UNESCO Re Italo Club encouraged all those present to become a volunteer and participate in the cultural events that are constantly being promoted in cooperation with other Associations. Also, in the guided tours around the city of Reggio.