by InTrieste
Following a pilot edition held last year, the town of Muggia will inaugurate its first official Festival of Equal Opportunity on Saturday, May 10. Organized by the Municipal Equal Opportunities Commission, the event will focus on adolescent well-being, addressing the challenges young people face and the support systems available to them and their families.
The festival will feature a full day of discussions, workshops, and community engagement activities, drawing together various organizations active in the social services sector.
The program begins at 9 a.m. in Piazza Marconi, where associations including TerraSophia, Diritti e Storti, San Martino al Campo, Amps Mamme e Papà Separati, Aulòs Musicoterapia, and the Zindis and Fonderia Microareas will be present until noon.
Several workshops will run concurrently during the morning: a songwriting lab led by Aulòs, a writing and reading session for youths aged 11 to 13 facilitated by Diritti e Storti, and an art and writing workshop for adults organized by TerraSophia.
In the afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Sala Millo will host a conference titled “Adolescents and Vulnerability.” The event will open with remarks from Muggia’s municipal Equal Opportunities Councillor, Gianna Birnberg, and Commission President Fabiana Zara. Speakers will include representatives from the morning’s participating associations, as well as Daniela Demarchi, head of the Giovanni Lucio Comprehensive School in Muggia; Valentina Segato, a psychologist and psychotherapist affiliated with the Padua Family Therapy Center; and Francesca Parisi, coordinator of the Youth Services division at the San Martino al Campo Community. The session will include a Q&A segment for the public.
“We need more than ever to understand and talk about adolescents,” said Councillor Birnberg. “They have changed, and we need to face together the reasons why. Often insecurity and fear can come across as arrogance or rudeness, and as institutions—together with families, educators, teachers, and coaches—we must reflect on how we can help.”
Commission President Zara added that the event is the result of months of preparation, underscoring the town’s commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue around youth and equal opportunity.
The festival aims to become an annual occasion for Muggia to engage in meaningful conversations around equality and support for its younger generations.
