by InTrieste
The regional government of Friuli Venezia Giulia has significantly expanded funding for school-based initiatives tied to Italy’s Giorno della Memoria, the annual Holocaust remembrance day observed on January 27, regional officials said on Friday.
Alessia Rosolen, the region’s councillor for education, announced that nearly one million euros have been allocated over the past three years to support educational projects aimed at strengthening historical awareness and democratic values among students. The funding has supported 67 projects involving 235 schools across 44 municipalities, reaching more than 9,000 students.
The initiatives focus on the history of the Holocaust as well as the victims of the foibe, referring to the mass killings that occurred along Italy’s eastern border during and after World War II. Regional officials said the programs are intended to provide students with historical knowledge and critical tools to counter misinformation and historical denial, particularly in digital spaces.
Funding has increased each year. For the 2023–2024 school year, the region allocated 250,000 euros to 14 projects. That figure rose to 318,000 euros for 23 projects in 2024–2025, and to more than 340,000 euros for the current academic year, supporting 26 projects involving 69 schools and approximately 3,000 students.
Under the regional program, projects focusing on a single theme may receive up to 7,000 euros, while those addressing both Holocaust remembrance and the foibe may receive up to 15,000 euros. The funding supports activities including educational trips to historical sites, documentaries, theatrical performances, workshops, lectures and public commemorations.
Participating municipalities include Trieste, Pordenone, Gorizia, Monfalcone and several smaller towns across the region. Schools involved range from primary schools to technical and secondary institutes.
Regional officials said the investment reflects a long-term strategy to reinforce historical education and civic awareness through schools, positioning remembrance initiatives as a key component of public education policy.
