LoppianoLab 2016 opened its doors again this year with the theme: the poverty of riches and the wealth of poverty. Persons, institutions, ideas and experiences all played an active part in building a future based on a culture of unity across all fields. Mileni, Gen Verde’s guitarist, described LoppianoLab 2016 as “unique since during it we launched ‘Young people in action’: performing arts workshops dedicated especially to young people looking for a way to build a better future.” So 160 young people mostly from Italy but also including a group of 50 from all over the world took part in this enriching experience of intercultural exchange. Mutual listening and trust reigned in an atmosphere free from prejudice. Mileni explains – “The young people told us that they learned to recognize the needs of those around them and not just their own.” They said: “We can choose: either to ignore those who have difficulties or to help them.” They discovered the miracle of ‘being together’ and the richness that comes from sharing in the small things of everyday life. When asked, “Did you learn anything new here?”, they replied: “we understood the value of solidarity, and helping one another.  We learned to value team work.  We learned the importance of a having a sense of responsibility and the part each can play in the life of a group.  We learned that on our own we can achieve small things but together we can do something great.” They also spoke about the important experience of working with others from a different culture: “we learned to go beyond barriers which could have been there because we speak different languages or come from different places.  Instead we found a way of communicating which was very deep and sincere.  Together we were able to go beyond moments when we experienced discouragement or failure and discover the joy of singing, dancing or creating music together.” When asked, what will you take from this to your everyday life?  The young people replied: “To listen to others.  To trust them.  Not to stop at my own limits.”  And: “We have learned to trust in ourselves more and that people are not always what they seem – first impressions can be wrong!  In the very positive atmosphere we experienced here, we learned to eliminate prejudice and get along happily with others.” The event concluded with a bang in an exciting final performance at the Loppiano Auditorium packed with 900 people. They listened intensely and in the end everyone was on their feet as great joy filled the air. Those in the audience said: “I loved the concert – it felt like something really new, modern and extremely relevant in that it touched on issues all of us face.”  And, “It was so beautiful, I experienced the strength that comes from diversity.  At the end of the concert I would have wanted to say so much, but in the end I remained in silence.  In silence to meditate on the values you transmitted to us.” Video