 Before I introduce Gianfranco’s Manifesto on Children’s Natural Rights, I will spend a little time introducing the author’s world and my relationship with him. In the conviction that this can offer an appropriate way to have a better understanding of what he wrote. If you know Italian, see his web site: www.scuolacreativa.it. Some Gianfranco's articles and the Manifesto is displayed on ScuolaER, an Italian important web site for Teachers and in a lot of others Italian web sites (try to make a research through the key words: diritti naturali dei bambini e delle bambine).
During the last ten years, I have met the author of “Natural Rights Manifesto” several times, sharing meals and living as guest in his house, totally surrounded by an energetic beechwood of Sorrivoli, near Cesena (a smiley, friendly little town in bio-Romagna region, Italy, as Gianfranco likes to say). Other times, we have worked together in small educational projects in Sorrivoli. the small village where he started his teacher job, before becoming headteacher of a primary and secondary school.I have known the GRTA group, (Gruppo Ricerca Tecnologie Appropriate, now Ecoistituto di Cesena) where Gianfranco is an active participant and founders, since around 25 years. I have spent enough time with them to appreciate the GRTA works: a small Group of friends and collaborators, really involved in Research on Appropriate Technology, offering a non-violent, critical and alternative view on modern and post modern life and technology. They are still collaborating with “Gaia” magazine: the prestigious Italian magazine that give continuity at Alexander Lang thinking.With Gianfranco, I share some important friends; most of them are involved into educational contexts developing a network of people with the aims to promote an active and creative learning, inside and out side school, spread all around my country.The range of his activities also spread in art-field for children, having his own puppet show and theatre, called “Baracca e burattini”, a way to radiate cheerfulness and Romagna’s traditions. He is also involved in the “Libera università dei burattini di Sorrivoli” (a Puppets Free university). It is placed in his small home-village, living his community and participating with neighbours, sharing the purpose to preserve the old Sorrivoli castle (where each year, in the middle of August are happening the puppeteers university events).One of the latest his project is the “Ecoistituto delle Tecnologie Appropriate”, that is still growing. In the past it was a parents’ farm; today is an “Ecological didactic farm”, as part of GRTA’s project. A massive complex project, where the Gianfranco father’s organic farm was gradually converted into an open class, involving schools in ecological practical workshops “acting, touching and tasting matter and natural products”. Finally - but not last – with the Banca Etica’s subvention (an Italian Ethic co-operative bank), I have collaborate with Gianfranco to transform the 10 listed Natural Rights into 10 coloured illustrated posters made by Vittori Belli. The posters are supported by a light dismountable wooden structure, easy to move and available in an English version. To have a look at these posters, and to have a better understanding see the following article: One by one Children’s Natural Rights Manifesto, where Gianfranco express his own explanation.
Gianfranco & Belli collaboration is still flourishing, demonstrated by this list of some their publications:
- “Giochiamo”, the a monthly young scouts magazine;
- “Gaia” a monthly ecologist magazine;
- “Giocattoli creativi” and “Bambini, barattoli giocattoli”, two books on toymaking activities, editing with Roberto Papetti’s collaboration, editing Le Scienze, Trieste, 2002;
- “Piccoli gesti di ecologia” (Little acts to save the World”.So, in conclusion I think it is enough to have something relevant to say about the Natural Rights and the Manifesto’s background, giving to Gianfranco a general profile as a peaceful, friendly and creative man. With its flurry of activities he is totally involved in finding ways to improve the children’s relationship with their own world and adult’s world. Substantially, he looks at the world and children needs through the influence of the bio-regional view, and by this he wrote this “Manifesto”.
The author’s thinkingFrom the beginning the author gives his mark at his creation: “If the Natural Rights are for children, the Manifesto wants to question the adults. The ten principles are asking them to be aware of the hazard of robbing the children’s best treasure: their childhood lived in accordance with nature.” The author’s remarkable use of to rob is used to stress what children opportunities, experiences, abilities and occasions lost if they do not meet the world through their owns way. “If they do not live these experiences when they are children, it is forever gone.” When he talks about his “Manifesto”, he want to see it as complementary way to improve the childhood condition as the “UN Convention of the children’s rights” tries to do.
In the Gianfranco’s use of “his” adjective, he thanks all people who gave him the inspiration to design these ten principles, making Children’s Natural Rights accessible to everyone. To do this, he recognises the value of 20 years of working with children as a teacher and as school director, meeting parents and teachers, listening to everybody and finding encouragement, supporting the positive results of his work with them.
To discover the starting point, Gianfranco tell us how he has built the Manifesto: “At this point in time, I found myself thinking about and discussing on children’s rights issues. First of all, I have tried to wear their clothes, looking at my childhood past memories. To do this, I questioned myself through this simple list:
• When I was a child, what did I love to do?
• What did I like to play with?
• Where did my friends and me go to play?
• Which were ours preferred toys and games?
• Which were our rights?
• And were we aware of these rights?
• Who was the person who ensured our rights?
Through these answers that I discovered, adding what people told me during my professional and volunteering experiences, I clarify myself on children’s basic needs, arriving to call them as Natural Rights.”
About his childhood positive experiences, he remembers that the Natural Rights were taken for granted. They were everyday experiences of the world. But no more it is not the same for today children, in our region as well as in all Italy, or in the richest European countries. For this reason he really add these ten rights to the UN Children’s Convention.
Gianfranco has launched a project to collect and print 100 different translation of Manifesto, looking for volunteers capable to translate the Italian version into other nationals and locally versions.
And what is his position regarding toys? His simple answer is: “The best present to offer to a child is to go with him in a tool shop and buy some simple hand-tools to make together traditional toys, using natural or recyclable materials.”
Renzo La Porta |
