On 13 September 2025, the Sala Accademica of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory will host the national event celebrating 10 years of activity of the Italian Youth Association for UNESCO (AIGU), founded in 2015 as the Youth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO and today a recognised ETS among the UNESCO Associations and Clubs. As well as being a networking opportunity with institutions and partners, it will be a plenary event with institutions, speakers and partners, involving members, former members and the public. An occasion to celebrate the journey undertaken by the association, which in ten years has built a widespread network across the entire country, engaging thousands of young people in cultural, educational and awareness-raising activities and promoting UNESCO’s values in a concrete and participatory way.
Ten years of commitment and achievements
From 2015 to 2025, AIGU has engaged young students and professionals, organising more than 600 events throughout Italy dedicated to the themes of education, science, sustainability and heritage. Through the EDU project alone, over 130 workshops have been organised, reaching more than 9,000 students and over 200 schools across the country. The Italian Youth Forum, the association’s main national event, has seen the active participation of around 1,800 young people over seven editions. Over the years, AIGU has collaborated with more than 100 national and international institutions, including the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Ministries, Regions, Universities and cultural bodies, building a solid and cross-cutting network in the service of change. A commitment officially recognised in 2018 with the awarding of the Medal of Representation of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, and by UNESCO itself, which has cited AIGU as an international best practice among youth organisations.
An event to look ahead
The event programme includes talks, themed speeches, artistic performances and the presentation of new projects and visions for the next ten years.
Among the themes at the heart of the discussion: the role of young people in promoting culture, cultural volunteering, access to education, technological innovation and sustainable development.
The event marks the beginning of a new phase: a moment of shared reflection and collective planning to continue building aware, inclusive communities that lead change. Supporting the tenth-anniversary event and AIGU’s future projects means sharing a vision: believing in the potential of the younger generations, investing in culture as a tool for social growth and actively participating in the building of more aware, sustainable and inclusive communities.
We look forward to seeing you in Rome, to look to the future together.
