Many projects bring the World Heritage Dolomites into the classrooms of schools of all levels each year. From Belluno to Bolzano, from Trentino to Friuli Venezia Giulia, here is a brief roundup of the latest opportunities to promote the values that led to the inscription of “their” mountains on the World Heritage List to children and adolescents.
Ph. Matteo Viviani
Middle school students take the leading roles in Andalo, Trentino
The traveling educational exhibition, “The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site – Geological Phenomena and Human Landscapes” made a stop in the Andalo (TN) Civic Hall, thanks to the Andalo Municipality in collaboration with the Adamello Brenta Natural Park Global Geopark and the Paganella Plateau Library. On Tuesday, 5 March, students from the Secondary School will present the educational work they did based on the exhibition, which is the result of the work of the UNESCO Dolomites Foundation Education and Scientific Research Network through Tsm|step School for Regional and Landscape Management, under the scientific supervision of Professor Bruno Zanon. As students in classes 3A and 3B Chiara, Valentino, Martino and Sofia state in the invitation they prepared, “It will be an opportunity to showcase the landscape in which we live and which we want to continue to protect, for a better future”.
Belluno’s “Lollino” high school hosts a week on UNESCO recognition
As part of the Civic Education Week, the “Alvise Lollino” Classical and Scientific High School of Belluno devoted an in-depth reflection on two UNESCO resolutions that affect the region and are united by the theme of responsibility towards the environment – the inclusion of the Dolomites in the World Heritage List and the inclusion of the Vajont Trial Archive in the “Memory of the World” register. From 29 January to 3 February, Irma Visalli, a consultant for the UNESCO Dolomites Foundation Landscape Heritage and Protected Areas Network and vice-president of the Tina Merlin Cultural Association, explored the value of the two UNESCO programmes that ideally meet at the Vajont Dam – a testament to man’s irresponsible exploitation of nature – with fourth grade students.
Bolzano: World Heritage to teach Ladin language
Something interesting is happening in the South Tyrolean area. The Intendenza Ladina of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol is preparing a volume that will also serve as a textbook for students applying for their teaching certification in Ladin. Among the various contributions on the history, culture, geography, geology and art of the region, there is also an entire chapter devoted to the World Heritage Site with special reference to the educational opportunities that can arise from the desire to bring students closer to an awareness of the values inherent in recognition. This is another example of how the World Heritage can support the other values that communities find in their homelands.
I Live Here: 350 students involved in Friuli
The project, “I live here in the Friulian Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site,” continues in Friuli Venezia Giulia this year, targeting teachers and students of comprehensive institutes in the regions in Dolomites World Heritage Site System 4. After meetings with school principals and teachers, the operational part involves as many as 27 classes, totalling 350 pupils (of whom 240 are in Primary and 110 in Secondary), from the comprehensive institutes of Maniago, Montereale Valcellina, the Meduna, Cosa and Arzino Valleys, and Tagliamento Valley. The project, sponsored by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, has the Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites as its educational agency, with overall coordination by Prof. Andrea Guaran of the University of Udine.