Launch of the "Conoscere e partecipare" series at the Fondazione Opera Munifica Istruzione

On 29 October 2026, at 6 p.m., at the Fondazione Opera Munifica Istruzione on via San Massimo 21 in Turin, the association Difendiamo il Futuro (“Let's Defend the Future”) opened the first of a series of nine meetings titled “Conoscere e partecipare: percorso di cittadinanza attiva e partecipazione civica” (“Knowing and taking part: a path of active citizenship and civic participation”). The programme runs from October 2026 to June 2027, followed, from September to December 2027, by a further phase devoted to carrying out a concrete civic-participation project ^[1].

The programme

The lectures, given by university professors, CNR researchers and representatives of local and regional institutions, last an hour and a half each. The series follows three underlying questions: what are the functions of municipalities (Comuni), regions and districts (Circoscrizioni); how much and how can citizens take part in public decisions; and how do democratic institutions work at every level ^[1].

The course was opened on 29 October by Professor Giovanni Boggero of the University of Turin, with a lecture on the concept of law and the state in democratic and non-democratic systems. Boggero returns on 19 November to address the relationship between the state and territorial autonomies starting from the Constitution. On 10 December, Igor Benati, a researcher at CNR-IRCrES, speaks on public policy ^[1].

With the new year the series turns to how administrations actually work: on 14 January 2027 Cristina Savio and Valerio Lomanto, chairs respectively of Turin's Districts (Circoscrizioni) 1 and 6, explain the powers and activities of the city's districts. 11 February is devoted to municipalities, with contributions from Andrea Andolfato, mayor of Sant'Antonino di Susa, and Matteo Cavallone, mayor of Collegno, whose participation is still to be confirmed. On 11 March the topic is the role of the Region and its legislative activity, with Aurelia Jannelli and Silvia Salvai of the Piedmont Regional Council. On 8 April the subject is the tools of direct participation available to citizens, with a contribution from an expert official. A further session is devoted to the management of public resources ^[1].

Aims

The chairman of Difendiamo il Futuro, Giulio Calabrese, said the series is meant to give participants the tools to understand how institutions work, learn the mechanisms of public administration and gain a better-informed awareness of democratic life, adding that the meetings are opportunities for direct dialogue with those who, at various levels, are responsible for governing the area ^[1].

Related articles: Difendiamo il Futuro

Sources

1. Cittadinanza attiva e partecipazione civica: Difendiamo il Futuro — Il Torinese, 26 October 2026