by Guisela Chiarella
A monument honoring Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the global scouting movement, was inaugurated on Sunday in Piazzale Biagio Marin, located in the Pineta of Barcola. The event, attended by civic leaders, scouting representatives, and religious figures, marked a significant addition to the city’s public commemorative landscape.
The ceremony featured remarks from Giorgio Rossi, Trieste’s Councillor for Culture and Tourism, who reflected on the values embodied by the scouting movement. “It is moving to see young people here today, demonstrating the respect that lies at the core of scouting and, more broadly, of a healthy society,” he said. Rossi also acknowledged Trieste’s complex historical identity, shaped by its past under the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the challenges of the 20th century. “Today, as in the past, it is up to younger generations to carry forward the values of coexistence,” he added.
Michele Babuder, the city’s Councillor for Territorial Policies, sent a message highlighting the ongoing impact of Baden-Powell’s legacy. “His teachings continue to inspire both young people and adults in their pursuit of active and responsible citizenship,” he wrote, expressing pride in the collaboration between municipal authorities and the project’s organizers.
The monument, a bust of Baden-Powell, was commissioned by the committee “A Monument for Baden-Powell in Trieste.” The committee is part of Cerchio Krog, an umbrella organization uniting Italian and Slovenian scouting associations in the city. The bronze sculpture was created by Romagnolo artist Umberto Corsucci and is now under the custodianship of the Municipality of Trieste.
Sunday’s event was attended by local officials, including municipal technicians Andrea de Walderstein and Giorgio Tagliapietra, who contributed to the project’s realization. Numerous delegations from both local and international scouting organizations were also present.
Baden-Powell (1857–1941), a British general, established the scouting movement in 1907 with the goal of fostering leadership, self-reliance, and cooperation among young people. Today, scouting organizations count more than 65 million members worldwide. His approach emphasized outdoor education, community service, and personal development, with a focus on universal values such as peace, responsibility, and mutual respect.
The new monument serves as a recognition of scouting’s enduring influence and as a tribute to a figure whose ideas continue to shape youth programs across the world.
