Staying not as a fallback, but as a choice. Capo d’Orlando becomes a place of discussion between Government, Region, universities, businesses and professionals. At the center is a question that concerns an entire generation: can the South return to being a land in which to plan its own future?
For too long the South has been told through departures. Suitcases, stations, airports, young people who study and then look elsewhere for space to transform skills and aspirations into work. Agorà Sud – The place of dialogue in the South tries to reverse the perspective: not ask young people why they are leaving, but ask themselves what needs to change so that they can choose to stay.
This is the meaning of “The right to remain in a growing territory”, the first event of the project scheduled in Capo d’Orlando. Today, September 11th, the presentation at Villa Piccolo; tomorrow, from 9.30 to 18.30, the competition will move to the Terrazza Mercadante, at the Marina di Capo d’Orlando.
The key word is “remainder”. But staying doesn’t mean stopping. It means being able to imagine a career, create a business, put a degree to good use, build a family without considering emigration an obligatory step. Hence the discussion on skills and cohesion policies, already looking at the European programming 2028-2034.
The morning of September 12th will open with Maristella Ridolfo, administrator of the Quater company that organizes and promotes the meeting, Renato Schifani, Franco Ingrillì, Domenico Barbuzza, Mario Sciacca and Maurizio Adamo. Massimo Scaffidi, assisted by Letizia Passarello, Raffaele Valentino, Valentina De Caro and Adriano Lo Presti will launch the section dedicated to the training of journalists given that the conference enjoys accreditation from the OdG of Sicily.
Then national and European politics
Moderated by Raffaele Marmo, Tommaso Foti, Anna Maria Bernini, Luigi Sbarra, Marco Falcone, Tommaso Calderone and Nunzia “Nuccia” Albano will compete. In the afternoon, with the coordination of Concita De Luca, the word “stay” will enter into the concreteness of economic and social choices through the interventions of Ermenegilda Siniscalchi, Luca Bianchi, Bernardette Grasso, Rosaria “Irene” Ricciardello and Elvio Mauri, together with the voices of local businesses.
But a South capable of retaining energy also needs a prepared Public Administration. Giampiero Pizziconi, Riccardo Monaco, Francesco Verbaro and Giovanni Bocchieri will talk about it. The relationship between work and European programming will instead be entrusted to Alessandro Gaetani, Marco De Maggio, Vincenzo Falgares and Francesco Esposito.
The last step will unite business and university: Agostino Di Maio, Pietro Franza and Fabio Luigi will dialogue with the rectors Enrico Foti, Paolo Scollo, Massimo Midiri and Giovanna Spatari. Edmondo Tamajo and Girolamo Turano will close, with a look also at the ITS Sicily system.
A bigger question remains behind the program. Southern Italy not only needs resources: it must be able to transform them into opportunities, skills, work and trust. Agora Sud starts from here: from the attempt to restore a new meaning to the word “remain”. Not being forced to stay, but finally having good reasons to do so. In addition to that of Journalists, the conference saw the accreditation of the Order of Accountants and Accounting Experts of Patti and that of Labor Consultants of Messina. The event is sponsored by the Ministry for European Affairs, the PNRR and Cohesion Policies – Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Sicilian Region – Education and Professional Training Department; Sicilian Region – Department of Productive Activities; Sicilian Region – Department of Family, Social Policies and Labour; University of Messina, Nebrodi Park Authority, Municipality of Capo d’Orlando, Villa Piccolo Foundation of Capo d’Orlando, Marina di Capo d’Orlando and Forma.Temp – Fund for training and income support for temporary workers