There is also the 18 year old Reggino Francesco De Marco among the Alfieri della Repubblica rewarded today by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. The young man, in November 2006, residing in Reggio Calabria received the prize for having rescued a couple of spouses who risked drowning. The rescue, which took place in 2023 in Ragusa, requested courage and timing given the bad condition of the sea. Overall Mattarella delivered 29 certificates of honor of “Alfiere della Repubblica” to young people Which, in 2024, distinguished themselves in the study, in cultural, scientific, artistic, sporting activities in volunteering or have carried out acts inspired by civic sense, altruism and solidarity. Alongside the awards for individual behaviors, President Mattarella has assigned 4 plates to reward collective actions of young and very young, also an expression of the values of solidarity, inclusion and welcome. “New routes for solidarity”, is the theme that inspired the choice of young people awarded in this edition.
“How many today receive this recognition – explains – they symbolically represent only a part of that indefinite number of young people who engage and work hard in everyday life, contributing every day to feed that set of values that constitutes the fundamental propulsive element for our society”. The ceremony, conducted by the actor Matteo Oscar Giuggioli, was opened by the intervention of President Mattarella.
Here are the reasons for the certificates of honor:
Maddalena Albiero, 11/9/2007, residing in Bardolino (VR) – for having succeeded, with poetry, to express feelings, fears, dreams that are common to the boys of his age. And for having made them an opportunity for growth by dialoguing and involving many other young people.
Giada Baltieri, 17/2/2008, residing in Caldiero (VR) – for the courage with which he faces the imperfect osteogenesis, rare genetic disease and still little known. Thanks to his smile and his energy he became the mascot of an important sporting event in support of research.
Michele Barbatelli, 20/12/2006, residing in Appignano (MC) – for continuity in commitment as a volunteer in favor of his country. A testimony of the resilience of the communities that populate Italian villages.
Niccolò Bartolacelli, 30/11/2006, resident in Serramazzoni (MO) – for having placed his computer skills at the service of a precious social utility: a program that facilitates for dyslexics the reading of a musical score.
Tommaso Caligari, 20/3/2006, residing in Cress (no) – for creating an artificial intelligence device that allows early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Great is his passion for technology but his social sensitivity is also strong.
Angela Calise, 26/9/2005, residing in Caserta – for having faced with courage and maturity the family and personal difficulties from which it was marked. The pain has not imprisoned it but rather made it vital and generous, always available to others.
Gabriele Ciancuto, 10/9/2011, residing in Amelia (TR) – for spontaneity, and at the same time tenacity, with which he tries to excite the little ones to science. He wrote books aimed at children, in which he treats materials and demanding topics with simple language.
Sara Cozzolino, 30/8/2007, residing in Naples – for the generosity with which she decided to share her sports skills in the Taekwondo training children with disabilities who live in her neighborhood. The value of the inclusiveness of sport can become a powerful tool for social transformation.
Francesco De Marco, 19/11/2006, residing in Reggio Calabria – for having rescued a couple of spouses who risked drowning. The rescue requested courage and timing given the bad condition of the sea.
Giorgia Fabris, 21/4/2010, residing in Trieste – for the naturalness with which it offers friendship and support for companions in difficulty. Its generous support contributes effectively to reception and integration.
Camilla Aurora Fanelli, 24/3/2004, residing in Milan – for the constant voluntary commitment within a penitentiary institution. Witness of solidarity in the guise of a coach of a volleyball team of prisoners.
Riccardo Folli Ruani, 19/2/2011, residing in Imola (Bo) – for having been able to transform, in such a young age, his passion for jellyfish and marine sponges into a civic commitment for the protection of the sea ecosystem, so important for the same safeguarding of the planet.
Erik Kokoshi, 21/4/2013, residing in Verona – for the solidarity and sensitivity shown by reading for a blind neighbor. The naturalness of his gesture underlines the extraordinary value of friendship, capable of overcoming any barrier, even the generational one.
Edoardo Levanja, 27/7/2012, residing in Monterotondo (Rome) – For the commitment of inclusion, generous and concrete, carried out through the practice of Baskin.
Samuel Massa, 25/7/2009, residing in Fossacesia (CH) – for the readiness with which he faced the danger by saving a wounded roe deer, who had ended up at sea. A courageous gesture that expresses respect for every form of life.
Francesco Mazza, 14/6/2008, resident of Lamezia Terme (CZ) – for the commitment of sports, instructor and volunteer, with whom he managed to transmit to the little ones the best values learned by practicing judo.
Maria Letizia Mello, 16/1/2006, residing in San Pietro in Lama (Le) – for the voluntary activity in favor of the elderly and sun of its community. A commitment started by a very young age, continued in the pandemic season and still later, cutting time in studies for the military career.
Beatrice Orlandi, 23/1/2006, residing in Asti – for the dedication and generosity with which he brings his music to the oncology department of the city hospital. The strings of his harp accompany patients and health personnel on long days of care.
Claudia Pais, 31/7/2006, residing in Sassari – for the voluntary commitment that today pours for the benefit of the youngest children, after receiving help in a difficult period of their lives.
Bianca Perrone, 14/1/2013, residing in Trepuzzi (LE) – for the tenacity with which he faces the difficulties of those who do not see. With his joy of life he has transformed many problems into strengths. The “Bianca YouTube channel, the Fairy of the butterflies” testifies to the indispensable value of diversity.
Francesco Pratesi, 7/2/2007, residing in Greve in Chianti (FI) – for the enthusiasm and competence with which he helped the Red Cross to improve its services, through the ideation of a new IT program.
Giulio Profan, 14/8/2007, residing in Trieste – for the passion with which he studies the biology and generosity with which he tries to make it known to the youngest kids, using simple and fun demonstrations.
Niccolò Ricci, 5/2/2009, residing in Carrara – to have, without hesitation, practiced a difficult maneuver of unblocking the respiratory tract, saving the life of a school collaborator who risked suffocating.
Martina Romiti, 15/4/2006, residing in Rome – for the determination and determination with which she tries to affect its peers on the issues of legality and the contrast to the mafias. His civil commitment also aims to promote the participation of children in difficult socio-cultural contexts.
Chiara Runfolo, 3/2/2008, residing in Palermo – for the tenacity with which, in her neighborhood, of social demands and for the commitment alongside the children following after school.
Serena Simonato, 11/12/2006, residing in Cavenago di Brianza (MB) – for the help, mature and concrete, which lends to homeless people. Her ability to listen and welcome the most vulnerable allowed her to become an example for other volunteers.
Diego Vergani, 3/6/2010, residing in Lentate sul Seveso (MB) – for the strength of mind with which the disease is facing. The great passion for music has become energy that feeds its resilience.
Marta Viris, 9/7/2005, residing in Villanova Monteleone (SS) – for the generosity and strength of its voluntary commitment. The energy with which he lavish himself for the most fragile is contagious and constitutes a tow in the community.
Davide Zilli, 14/12/2011, residing in Osio Sopra (BG) – for having invented a device capable of providing assistance in charging the cochlear systems. The ideation earned him an important international recognition.