On Friday, 9th May, at the Focolare Meeting Point, in the heart of Rome and through an online live broadcast, the award ceremony of the competition for schools entitled“One city is not enough. Chiara Lubich, citizen of the world” took place. ”. The competition is dedicated to the founder of the Focolare Movement, a woman who was able to combine education, politics and dialogue for peace.

The theme proposed for the fifth edition was: “Exploring the concept of peace, in relation to the thought of Chiara Lubich”. A total of 118 entries (individual and group) were submitted by 35 educational institutions from 15 Italian regions.

The competition is promoted by New Humanity, the Chiara Lubich Centre and the Trent Historical Museum Foundation, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit. It is an opportunity for teachers and students to reflect on the values of fraternity, hospitality and dialogue between cultures, central themes in the thought and action of Chiara Lubich.

Winning Entries

Upper Secondary School

1st place: “Building Infinity”, from class 5^ A Linguistic, Liceo A. Maffei – Riva del Garda (Trento).
With relevant images, the students creatively presented their reflection on the theme of peace, combining it with characteristic elements of Chiara Lubich’s thought which placed great emphasis on close relationships: where there is love there is unity and where there is unity there is peace.

2nd place (tied): “Living Peace”, from class 2^ H, Liceo Classico Quinto Orazio Flacco – Bari.
This written entry was particularly appreciated for emphasizing peace as a daily commitment. Significant references were drawn from Chiara Lubich’s legacy of fraternity and practical engagement for a more united world.

2nd place (tied): “Gaze”, by Elena Scandarelli 3rd AU, Liceo Maria Ausiliatrice – Riviera San Benedetto (Padua).
In a simple and effective way, the image explicitly communicated the importance that Chiara Lubich placed on being able to look at the world beyond human challenges, facing them with a gaze full of hope.

Lower Secondary school

1st place: 1920-2011, by Alessia Tombacco 3^ C, IC Elisabetta “Betty” Pierazzo – Noale (Venice).
The text presented offered an original reflection highlighting the relevance of Chiara Lubich’s thought today and the possibility of a meaningful encounter with her, even outside the time in which she lived. Rich in confidence in the present and hope for the future, it presented the image of the human being as a “cell”: bearer of new relationships for a world without borders.

2nd place: “Voices of Fraternity”, class 3^ D, IC Giovanni XXIII – Villa San Giovanni (Reggio Calabria).
In this multimedia work, the active involvement of the students, the first witnesses of a more united and fraternal fragment of the world, was particularly appreciated. The reference to the possibility of being “peacemakers” starting from our closest relationships was viewed as most important.

Primary school

1st place: “A seed of Unity”, by Aurora Pellegrino 5^ A, IC Radice-Alighieri – Catona (Reggio Calabria).
The poetic composition expressed an original reflection on the theme of peace in the light of the unique contribution of Chiara Lubich, a woman of dialogue.

2nd place: “One city is not enough”, class 4^ A, IC Antonio Gramsci – Tissi (Sassari).
This multimedia entry presented, in an original and effective way, the spaces and values of an ideal world in which, with love, every form of discrimination can be overcome.

For commendations and further information on the content of the entries

Lorenzo Russo