Manifesto for change
Youth and future
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Manifesto for change
Youth and future
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THE PROJECT
Thousands of young people from the world, imagine an evolving future
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We live in a world where everyone talks about young people without listening to them. Through artistic, cultural and educational activities, the Association will support girls and boys living in difficult conditions or in conflict areas, young people who need help and support to realize their dreams or in the search for their place in the world.
"I met thousands of young people in universities, prisons and reception centers, listened to their needs, their fears and their vision of the future. I felt the duty to roll up my sleeves and create this association that through culture and beauty can rekindle the dreams of the new generations, trying to be the spark of change".
Giovanni Caccamo
The “Manifesto for change” has been published by Treccani , with a preface by Pope Francis . The book, born from the Youth and Future ideas competition, is the international re-edition of the “Manifesto for change” and collects the visions for the future of seventy-five young people from all over the world, selected from the thousands who participated in the project.
The presentation was held on March 20, 2025, as a preview in New York, at the United Nations General Assembly, on the occasion of the international forum Change the World Model UN (CWMUN ), in collaboration with Diplomatici NGO, in the presence of 4,000 young people from over 140 countries.
Caccamo held a series of meetings with students at some of the most prestigious universities in the world that joined the initiative: Yale University, Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, Wellesley College in the United States; UNAM in Mexico, UANIL and Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and institutions such as the Vatican Museums and the MAXXI - National Museum of 21st Century Arts.
What would you change about the society you live in and how? What is your word of change? These are the two questions posed by Giovanni Caccamo, which were answered in writing by thousands of young people around the world. Each one chose a word for change and came up with a short treatise summarizing the aspect of society that would change and the concrete ideas to be able to do so.
Among the most relevant texts is that of Valeriia, a Ukrainian student who chose the word “war” to describe its horrors and difficulties, from the biggest to the smallest and most daily. She writes: “I am afraid of war. But what I have noticed and what I fear most is that war is becoming a habit". Then there is Hasan Hirji, a Palestinian student who titled his writing “Movement” to describe the vitality of his land made of hills, furrows, valleys that no war can destroy: “If a marble were dropped by a sparrow in flight in the West Bank, the marble could roll, tumble and jump all the way to the Sea of Gaza, if allowed to pass freely”. Student Raneem Elwasimi, on the other hand, signs the piece “Children”, a reflection on the right to education, still denied in many parts of the world.
The idea, which started in 2021 in response to the appeal of the writer Andrea Camilleri, who entrusted the new generations with the arduous task of starting a new humanism, since then this great international collective project has involved numerous universities and youth organizations thanks to which many of the texts in the book have been collected.
Fifteen young representatives took part in the Agora of Change , an artistic performance inside the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Museums, under the famous painting School of Athens by Raphael , in which the words and ideas of each one related to those of the others.
On this occasion Marco Anelli , Marina Abramovic's historic photographer, created an extraordinary photographic reportage. In order for this project not to remain just a theoretical reflection, aware of not being able to be exhaustive, the participants of the Agora of Change have tried to draw up an open list of the values in which the new generations recognize themselves and some concrete proposals that could help the society of the future to achieve the desired perspectives and changes.
The "Manifesto of Change" was born from the certainty that young people, to build an evolving future, must dialogue with the Masters. Certain that there is no future without roots, we have created a new interaction between analog and digital, young and wise. Loredana Amenta, a young Sicilian artist expert in printing and fine art engraving, composed twelve texts written by the youth in lead type and then printed them on cotton paper with an Albion Press from 1846 with the ancient technique invented by Gutenberg in the mid-15th century. Each of these sheets was then entrusted to a great contemporary master who drew inspiration from them for a pivotal work of art for a new generational comparison.
The masters who took part in the project: Arnaldo Pomodoro, Emilio Isgrò, Fabrizio Plessi, Ferdinando Scianna, Francesca Cataldi, Giulia Napoleone, Guido Strazza, Mario Ceroli, Maurizio Cattelan, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mimmo Jodice, Mimmo Paladino.
The works and the project were exposed in an exhibition, curated by Micol Forti, entitled "The shape of words", at the Sala Fontana of the Museo del Novecento in Milan and at the Meeting in Rimini .
The project, supported by Banca Ifis (Main partner), Pulsee Luce e Gas and Alessia Zanelli, starting from young people, pushes towards the idea of a saving change, in contrast to crises, conflicts and disintegration.
The proceeds from the sale of the "Manifesto for Change" and the works of the Italian project were donated to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, while the proceeds from the sale of the international re-edition of "Manifesto for Change" will be donated to the Youth and Future Association - Parola ai giovani, to support scholarships for young people in difficulty and cultural projects aimed at training, orientation and valorization of the young citizens of tomorrow.
Dear people,
I am Giovanni Caccamo, an Italian artist and singer-songwriter. For a couple of years now, I have been on a journey in search of ideas, designs and evolutionary visions, to counter the nihilism and obscurantism that threaten our dreams and hopes, in the knowledge that darkness always holds the precious opportunity to turn on a light. At the gates of a new spring, veterans of a long period of apnoea, forced into a delicate and profound metamorphosis, I think it is our duty to ask ourselves what the most urgent changes in our society might be.
This appeal I am addressing to you, is the international continuum of the competition of ideas Word to Young People, which I launched last 31 March 2022, in collaboration with the Vatican Museums, in response to the appeal of the writer Andrea Camilleri, a pillar of Italian literature, who entrusted the new generations with the arduous task of starting a new humanism.
I met thousands of young people in universities, prisons and reception centres, listened to their needs, their fears and their vision of the future.
What would you change about the society you live in and how? What is your word for change? These were the two questions answered in writing by thousands of young Italians. The most luminous and profound answers were collected in the book Change Manifesto, with an extraordinary preface by Pope Francis.
The “Manifesto for change” has been published by Treccani , with a preface by Pope Francis . The book, born from the Youth and Future ideas competition, is the international re-edition of the “Manifesto for change” and collects the visions for the future of seventy-five young people from all over the world, selected from the thousands who participated in the project.
The presentation was held on March 20, 2025, as a preview in New York, at the United Nations General Assembly, on the occasion of the international forum Change the World Model UN (CWMUN ), in collaboration with Diplomatici NGO, in the presence of 4,000 young people from over 140 countries.
Caccamo held a series of meetings with students at some of the most prestigious universities in the world that joined the initiative: Yale University, Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, Wellesley College in the United States; UNAM in Mexico, UANIL and Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and institutions such as the Vatican Museums and the MAXXI - National Museum of 21st Century Arts.
What would you change about the society you live in and how? What is your word of change? These are the two questions posed by Giovanni Caccamo, which were answered in writing by thousands of young people around the world. Each one chose a word for change and came up with a short treatise summarizing the aspect of society that would change and the concrete ideas to be able to do so.
Among the most relevant texts is that of Valeriia, a Ukrainian student who chose the word “war” to describe its horrors and difficulties, from the biggest to the smallest and most daily. She writes: “I am afraid of war. But what I have noticed and what I fear most is that war is becoming a habit". Then there is Hasan Hirji, a Palestinian student who titled his writing “Movement” to describe the vitality of his land made of hills, furrows, valleys that no war can destroy: “If a marble were dropped by a sparrow in flight in the West Bank, the marble could roll, tumble and jump all the way to the Sea of Gaza, if allowed to pass freely”. Student Raneem Elwasimi, on the other hand, signs the piece “Children”, a reflection on the right to education, still denied in many parts of the world.
The idea, which started in 2021 in response to the appeal of the writer Andrea Camilleri, who entrusted the new generations with the arduous task of starting a new humanism, since then this great international collective project has involved numerous universities and youth organizations thanks to which many of the texts in the book have been collected.
Fifteen young representatives took part in the Agora of Change , an artistic performance inside the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Museums, under the famous painting School of Athens by Raphael , in which the words and ideas of each one related to those of the others.
On this occasion Marco Anelli , Marina Abramovic's historic photographer, created an extraordinary photographic reportage. In order for this project not to remain just a theoretical reflection, aware of not being able to be exhaustive, the participants of the Agora of Change have tried to draw up an open list of the values in which the new generations recognize themselves and some concrete proposals that could help the society of the future to achieve the desired perspectives and changes.
The "Manifesto of Change" was born from the certainty that young people, to build an evolving future, must dialogue with the Masters. Certain that there is no future without roots, we have created a new interaction between analog and digital, young and wise. Loredana Amenta, a young Sicilian artist expert in printing and fine art engraving, composed twelve texts written by the youth in lead type and then printed them on cotton paper with an Albion Press from 1846 with the ancient technique invented by Gutenberg in the mid-15th century. Each of these sheets was then entrusted to a great contemporary master who drew inspiration from them for a pivotal work of art for a new generational comparison.
The masters who took part in the project: Arnaldo Pomodoro, Emilio Isgrò, Fabrizio Plessi, Ferdinando Scianna, Francesca Cataldi, Giulia Napoleone, Guido Strazza, Mario Ceroli, Maurizio Cattelan, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mimmo Jodice, Mimmo Paladino.
The works and the project were exposed in an exhibition, curated by Micol Forti, entitled "The shape of words", at the Sala Fontana of the Museo del Novecento in Milan and at the Meeting in Rimini .
The project, supported by Banca Ifis (Main partner), Pulsee Luce e Gas and Alessia Zanelli, starting from young people, pushes towards the idea of a saving change, in contrast to crises, conflicts and disintegration.
The proceeds from the sale of the "Manifesto for Change" and the works of the Italian project were donated to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, while the proceeds from the sale of the international re-edition of "Manifesto for Change" will be donated to the Youth and Future Association - Parola ai giovani, to support scholarships for young people in difficulty and cultural projects aimed at training, orientation and valorization of the young citizens of tomorrow.
THE STORY OF THE PROJECT
Manifesto for change
Youth and Future
The Manifesto for Change - Youth and future will be the international expansion of the Italian project Parola ai Giovani , which I conceived and promoted in Italy between 2022 and 2023, to give young people a voice and give birth to a new humanism, in collaboration with the Vatican Museums and MAXXI - National Museum of XXI Century Arts . The project is the follow up to my latest album Parola .
The album is based on the call made by writer Andrea Camilleri, who asked young people to be the forerunners of a new humanism based on giving new value to words. Each song on the album is inspired by a piece of Italian or foreign literature, whether modern or contemporary, introducing each track and interpreted by artists Willem Dafoe, Patti Smith & Jesse Paris Smith, Aleida Guevara as well as by other voices in an intergenerational dialogue.
The Parola ai Giovani project was conceived after the release of the album, and is based on the assumption that the contribution of thousands of young people was needed to elicit a new Humanism. Thus, two roll call questions were launched, "What would you change about the society you live in and how? What is your word for change?" .
Thousands of young people answered these questions in writing. Each one of them chose a word of change and wrote a short composition summarizing what they would change as well as practical ways on how they would achieve it. The Call for Ideas was addressed to young people of all religions, gender identity cultures and social backgrounds. Diversity is treasured as a value for building the future.
The fifteen young authors of the most brilliant compositions joined in an artistic performance, inside Raffaello's Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Museums to discuss change and the future. During the session, Marco Anelli, Marina Abramovic's photographer, produced an extraordinary photo-reportage.
As a follow up to the discussion a Manifesto was drafted which was published in May 2023 by Treccani, prefaced by Pope Francis .
Since there is no future without past, some of the young people's compositions were overprinted on cotton cloth paper with lead typefaces, based on Gutenberg's 15th-century technique. Each one of these works was then given to a great contemporary Master who produced an inspirational artwork based on the endless and timeless exchange between generations. The lineup of the artists who joined this project was impressive: Francesca Cataldi, Maurizio Cattelan, Mario Ceroli, Emilio Isgrò, Mimmo Jodice, Giulia Napoleone, Mimmo Paladino, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Fabrizio Plessi, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Ferdinando Scianna, Guido Strazza . The artworks became an extraordinary exhibition at the Rimini Meeting and the Museo del Novecento in Milan, entitled The Shape of Words , curated by Micol Forti.
Proceeds from the sale of the book and works are donated to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation to support scholarships for young people in need.
On September 1, 2023, the documentary of the project was screened and presented at the Venice Film Festival .
7 April 2024, at the UN General Assembly in New York, the call for ideas Youth and future will be open to all students around the world to draft the international edition of the Manifesto for Change .
'Manifesto for Change' will be available on 21 March 2025 in all national and international digital stores. The book, published by Treccani , will collect 75 texts, some of which are already part of the Italian edition of the book and others selected from all over the world
The 'Manifesto for Change', will be premiered on 20 March at the 'Change the World forum' in New York, where 5000 young people from over 142 countries will gather in the General Assembly of the United Nations to talk about change and the future
THE MEETINGS
Giovanni Caccamo will meet thousands of students around the world, listening to the ideas, fears and visions of young people, to draw up the Manifesto for Change.
15 aprile '24 - Harvard University
16 aprile '24 - Berklee College of Music
17 aprile '24 - Wellesley College
18 aprile '24 - Yale University
maggio '24 - Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
18 settembre '24 - UNIVALI Brasil
25 settembre '24 - UANL Mexico
The Manifesto for Change - Youth and future will be the international expansion of the Italian project Parola ai Giovani , which I conceived and promoted in Italy between 2022 and 2023, to give young people a voice and give birth to a new humanism, in collaboration with the Vatican Museums and MAXXI - National Museum of XXI Century Arts . The project is the follow up to singer-songwriter Giovanni Caccamo's latest album Parola .
The album is based on the call made by writer Andrea Camilleri, who asked young people to be the forerunners of a new humanism based on giving new value to words. Each song on the album is inspired by a piece of Italian or foreign literature, whether modern or contemporary, introducing each track and interpreted by artists Willem Dafoe, Patti Smith & Jesse Paris Smith, Aleida Guevara as well as by other voices in an intergenerational dialogue.
The Parola ai Giovani project was conceived after the release of the album, and is based on the assumption that the contribution of thousands of young people was needed to elicit a new Humanism. Thus, two roll call questions were launched, "What would you change about the society you live in and how? What is your word for change?" .
Thousands of young people answered these questions in writing. Each one of them chose a word of change and wrote a short composition summarizing what they would change as well as practical ways on how they would achieve it. The Call for Ideas was addressed to young people of all religions, gender identity cultures and social backgrounds. Diversity is treasured as a value for building the future.
The fifteen young authors of the most brilliant compositions joined in an artistic performance, inside Raffaello's Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Museums to discuss change and the future. During the session, Marco Anelli, Marina Abramovic's photographer, produced an extraordinary photo-reportage.
The Manifesto for Change - Youth and future will be the international expansion of the Italian project Parola ai giovani, which I conceived and promoted in Italy between 2022 and 2023, to give young a voice and give birth to a new humanism, in collaboration with the Vatican Museums and MAXXI - National Museum of XXI Century Arts. The project is the follow up to my latest album Parola.
The album is based on the call made by writer Andrea Camilleri, who asked young people to be the forerunners of a new humanism based on giving new value to words. Each song on the album is inspired by a piece of Italian or foreign literature, whether modern or contemporary, introducing each track and interpreted by artists Willem Dafoe, Patti Smith & Jesse Paris Smith, Aleida Guevara as well as by other voices in an intergenerational dialogue.
The Parola ai giovani project was conceived after the release of the album, and is based on the assumption that the contribution of thousands of young people was needed to elicit a new Humanism. Thus, two roll call questions were launched, “What would you change about the society you live in and how? What is your word for change?”.
Thousands of young people answered these questions in writing. Each one of them chose a word of change and wrote a short composition summarizing what they would change as well as practical ways on how they would achieve it. The Call for Ideas was addressed to young people of all religions, gender identity cultures and social backgrounds. Diversity is treasured as a value for building the future.
The fifteen young authors of the most brilliant compositions joined in an artistic performance, inside Raffaello’s Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Museums to discuss change and the future. During the session, Marco Anelli, Marina Abramovic’s photographer, produced an extraordinary photo-reportage.
As a follow up to the discussion a Manifesto was drafted which was published in May 2023 by Treccani, prefaced by Pope Francis.
Since there is no future without past, some of the young people’s compositions were overprinted on cotton cloth paper with lead typefaces, based on Gutenberg’s 15th-century technique. Each one of these works was then given to a great contemporary Master who produced an inspirational artwork based on the endless and timeless exchange among generations. The lineup of the artists who joined this project was impressive: Francesca Cataldi, Maurizio Cattelan, Mario Ceroli, Emilio Isgrò, Mimmo Jodice, Giulia Napoleone, Mimmo Paladino, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Fabrizio Plessi, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Ferdinando Scianna, Guido Strazza. The artworks became an extraordinary exhibition at the Rimini Meeting and the Museo del Novecento in Milan, entitled The Shape of Words, curated by Micol Forti.
Proceeds from the sale of the book and works are donated to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation to support scholarships for young people in need.
On September 1, 2023, the documentary of the project was screened and presented at the Venice Film Festival.
5 April 2024, at the UN General Assembly in New York, the call for ideas Youth and future will be open to all students around the world to draft the international edition of the Manifesto for Change.
From all the texts received, the 100 most luminous and profound compositions will be selected to be included in the book Manifesto for Change to be published in 2025. As we did in the Italian version of the Manifesto, we will entrust some of the most beautiful texts received from the young people to some of the major international master artists.
THE YOUTH AND FUTURE FAMILY
How many are we?
2470
Texts received from the world
530,000
Youth involved
12
Masters of Art
200,000
Fundraising
COLLABORATIONS
Our partners
COMPACT
50 Kg
Payload Capacity
60 liters
Storage Compartment
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