ITA,Bologna, Castel San Pietro Terme, June 6th, 2019. Michelle as the Children’s City Council spokesperson is preparing to take part in the adult assembly with the Adult Mayor for the 73rd anniversary of the Italian Republic foundation in 1946. They will give a copy of the Italian Republic Constitution to all 18-year-olds. “This is a symbolic gesture since the Constitution has existed since before you were born”, underlines the Adult Mayor. Knowledge of the cardinal principles of a democratic country (there are 12 in all) is essential when acquiring the status of citizen and the right to vote. Only 1 per cent of Italian Municipalities have this kind of children’s’ democratic body in which the citizens of the future start absorbing the values of democracy from childhood playing together.

Budrio, Bologna, ITA, April 6, 2019. Valentina is arranging Michelle's hair (12) at the children’s clothing shop of her mother. The young girls tried on a lot of dresses, accessories and shoes they will wear for the fashion show in the main square of the town the following Sunday. Valentina is one of Michelle’s fashion friend.

Paris, FR, July 12th, 2019. Michelle (12) is hugging her mother Valeria at the Paris underground railway station on her way back to Louvre on the late afternoon. She has planned the children education itinerarie in advanced thrilled to admire the Monna Lisa along with the oil paintings, statues and art collections. She was interested in comparing what she had learnt at school with the huge masterpieces exhibited

Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, November 25th, 2017. Michelle (11) helps her great-grandmother Nerina, 93-years-old. They are preparing 'tortellini', homemade pasta, in the basement room of her grandparents' home. Grandmother Gianna gives them the last egg. Michelle is closely tied to family traditions. 'Tortellini' is her favorite dish, one of the symbols of the region where she lives. She wants to make sure that local traditions, such as homemade pasta and the local dialect, don't fade into the past.

Michelle sings in a famous children’s choir in Bologna (Piccolo Coro ‘Mariele Ventre’ dell’Antoniano). In this occasion the choir is rehearsing for recording a video which will be broadcasted over the Christmas time. Michelle joined the Choir at the age of 7 after passing a selection among 250 candidates. The choir, founded by the Franciscan Friars, is a school of music as well as a school of life for sharing the values of charity, solidarity and taking care of disadvantage people. The children’s songs send a message of peace and hope without distinction of nationality, religion, gender, language and race. The Choir is UNICEF ambassador since 2002 and has UNESCO recognition among the Heritage for a Culture of Peace since 2008.

Bologna, ITA, November 20th, 2021. Michelle (15) is interviewed for the national broadcasting television on the day of the Regional Youth Assembly, the first in Italy to be established on 2021 November 20, the anniversary of the United Nation Convention for the rights of the Child. Michelle is one of the newly elected 50 Councilors of Emilia-Romagna Region, whose ages range from 9 to 18, will assume the position for 2 years. Michelle is explaining to the journalist the topics which are most close to her: sustainable mobility, ethical volunteering, social justice, inclusion, solidarity, ecological transition and climate change. In addition, she illustrates her career which began at 10 as a Deputy Mayor and then later as Mayor in the Children Council of Castel San Pietro Terme, getting involved and taking action in the social life of her local Community.

Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, March 16th, 2019. Michelle (12) with young migrants living in the town look towards a new future, learning together about the Italian Constitution in the historical places of the town. This is the aim of a project developed by the educators in the Children’s Councils. They study and learn the 12 fundamental articles in which everyone is united under the same flag: the freedom of religion, tolerance, principles of equality, integration, peace and the right to work and study. These are the fundaments of a country governed by a democratic organization of power. In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”

ITA, Bologna, Castel San Pietro Terme, April 25th 2018. Michelle and her 84-year- old grandfather, an ex-soldier, embrace as they remember those who died to bring freedom to their community. They are surrounded by the Italian Alpine troops on Liberation Day. Michelle does not want historical tradition to fade into the past. She takes part in the street parade of her small town as Deputy Mayor and pays tribute to the victims of WWII who fought for freedom. The values of tradition and family are fundamental. These children want their history to be never forgotten because it teaches the values of peace and free coexistence among peoples by the older surviving members of their local society. Their grandparents pass down stories of heroism and teach the younger members of society about how we owe our freedom to soldiers in past battles.

ITA, Belluno, Borca di Cadore, April 1st, 2018. Michelle plays chess surrounded by her parents, Valeria and Paride at friends’ mountain house during Easter holidays in the unforgettable Dolomites. She has been skiing with her family all Easter day.

IT, Castel San Pietro Terme, BO, December 1st, 2018. Michelle has just fed her goldfishes called Sebastian e Goldfish. Her grandmother won them at the Charity Fair.

ITA, Bologna, Castel San Pietro Terme, September 30th, 2017. Michelle blows off candles surrounded by her closest friends in a pizzeria for her Birthday Party.Her parents, Valeria and Paride, decorated the emoticon homemade cake as a lovely surprise. Michelle turned 11 on September 22nd, 2017

Genoa, ITA, June 10, 2018. Michelle (11) stands in front of the bookshop at the Palazzo Rosso Museum where she admired the collections of frescoes of the 17th-century Genoese art and the painting exhibition of many famous Italian and foreign artists such as Guercino and Van Dyck. The palace along with the galleries of Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Doria Tursi. is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the historical center of Genoa, Northwestern Italy. Michelle visited the in the baroque residential site with her family and friends over a weekend. Michelle is growing as a typical little girl, bursting with positivity and passions and taking part in the social life of her small town.

Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, ITA, June 6th, 2019. At the end of the Senior City Council where Michelle (12) intervened as spokesperson of the Children Council with her mother on the left. Michelle is receiving congratulation from the History Professor Mrs. Lia who is the founder of a local Association ( Terra, Storia, Memoria ) focused on promoting historical awareness. Michelle is the youngest members of this association. She wants to make ‘remembering’ the theme of forthcoming engagements in the Children’s Council because she is deeply passionate about history for what can teach us.

Bologna, ITA, November 20th, 2021. Michelle (15) asks the Regional Youth Assembly to speak to express her priorities to build a new present and future. Michelle is one of the newly elected 50 Councilors of Emilia-Romagna, the first in Italy to be established on 2021 November 20, the anniversary of the United Nation Convention on the rights of the Child. The Region will check the proposals presented in the context of the design of funds for Next Generation EU and the European Recovery Plan. Furthermore, the region will try to translate the proposals of the young people into the next guidelines. Young councilors have unique perspectives on local issues, they often bring new ideas to the table, and they can be an inexhaustible source of energy for social change.

Shanghai, CHN, December 29th, 2017. Michelle (11) is relaxing in the bathtub of her room at the InterContinental Shanghai Expo Hotel. She has just performed with the Little Choir of Antoniano at the Children's Art Theatre in Shanghai. Tickets for the concerts were immediately sold out in China. That’s why Michelle has so many Chinese friends. They are the citizens of tomorrow. They identify with the concept of internationalism and globalism dreaming they can shape the world in the next future.

ITA, Bologna, Piazza Maggiore, The Town Hall, Palazzo D'Accursio, May 24th, 2018. 11 year-old Michelle, Deputy Mayor of the Children City Council of Castel San Pietro Terme, looking through her report on the social activities carried out in 2018 during the annual debate in the local Children’s Parliament. A 10-year-old Michelle was elected as Deputy Mayor in 2017, and as Mayor in 2019. The elections were held in the local schools first and subsequently in the Town Hall. It was a secret ballot. At least once a month the Children City Council has a meeting where the children together with the educators can develop ideas, exchange approaches and discuss freely in compliance with the democratic rules. Many proposals have been put forward. In this way, the children are taking an active part in the social life of their town. The values of democracy are absorbed from childhood, between dreams for the future and politics. Education is fundamental to the protection of democracy.

Italy, Castel S. Pietro Terme, BO, November 11, 2017. Michelle has just finished her flute lesson at the School of Music. She has been playing the flute since she was six. Since 2019 she takes part in the official local Band.