by InTrieste
The city’s Civil Protection Volunteer Group concluded its summer educational program with children and teenagers from Trieste’s municipal youth centers on August 4, marking the end of a six-week initiative aimed at teaching emergency preparedness in an engaging, hands-on way.
Part of the city’s Ricrestate summer program, the sessions combined theory with practical demonstrations. “The goal was to raise awareness among young people about the important role of Civil Protection,” said Caterina de Gavardo, Trieste’s councillor for public safety. “We wanted to promote good practices—simple yet effective measures that can make a difference in emergencies.”
Volunteers adapted each meeting to the age of participants, offering demonstrations of their field operations, particularly in wildfire prevention. They brought equipment used during emergencies, including helmets, high-visibility vests and radio communication devices, allowing children to see and handle the tools firsthand.
According to the city, the initiative built on similar outreach carried out in local schools, providing knowledge that could prove essential in moments when personal safety is at risk. “This confirms the youth center as a place of both recreation and learning,” said Maurizio De Blasio, councillor for education and family policies.
Program Overview
- Dates: June 30 to August 4, 2025
- Schedule: Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings (with one afternoon session at the Padovan center)
- Locations: 13 youth centers, including Anna Frank, Brunner, Cobolli, De Amicis, Fonda-Savio, Gentilli, Lucchini, Nordio, Padovan, Pitteri, Ricceri, SIS Collodi and Stuparich
- Format: 14 theory-and-practice sessions, three hours each
- Volunteers: Between 5 and 12 per session, totaling 246 volunteer hours and 52 hours of direct activity at youth centers
- Participation: 740 children and adolescents, averaging 53 participants per meeting
City officials said the program’s results were “more than positive” and expressed interest in continuing the collaboration with the Civil Protection Volunteers in future editions of Ricrestate.
