by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Caterina De Gavardo, Councilor for Public Safety and Local Police; Walter Milocchi, Commander of the Trieste Local Police; ‘nonna vigile’ Giovanna
Sixty volunteer “nonni vigili” will serve outside 33 primary schools, continuing a civic tradition that has protected students and families for more than four decades.
As the school year begins in Trieste, one of the city’s longest-running community services is returning to the streets: the nonni vigili, or volunteer senior crossing guards, who help children and their families safely cross roads outside primary schools.
Established by the Municipality of Trieste in 1980, the program has become a familiar part of daily life, with volunteers stationed at pedestrian crossings during school arrival and dismissal times. While modest in appearance, the initiative plays a significant role in improving safety around schools and fostering a sense of shared responsibility within the community.
City officials announced the new school-year service during a press conference in Piazza Unità d’Italia, attended by Councillor for Urban Security Caterina de Gavardo, Education and Family Councillor Maurizio De Blasio, Local Police Commander Walter Milocchi, City Councillor Marcelo Medau, and representatives of Trieste Trasporti.
This year, the municipality received 60 accepted applications, filling all available positions and creating a short waiting list for the first time in recent years. According to de Gavardo, the response reflects the continued willingness of residents to volunteer in support of local families.
The service will initially deploy 57 crossing guards across 33 primary schools, with volunteers ranging in age from 55 to 82. The group includes 49 men and 8 women, and additional recruits may join after completing mandatory training during the opening weeks of school.
De Gavardo said the municipality has introduced several improvements in recent years, including a modest increase in compensation and new equipment to support volunteers in their work. She also thanked Trieste Trasporti for once again providing participating crossing guards with complimentary public transport passes.
The city’s Local Police coordinate the program, identifying the busiest and most hazardous crossings and assigning volunteers where they are most needed. Some schools require multiple crossing guards to monitor several intersections simultaneously, Milocchi said, adding that the police remain a constant point of reference throughout the school year.
De Blasio described the volunteers as an essential presence in the educational community, while Medau recalled that efforts to secure free public transport for the crossing guards began several years ago following a request from one volunteer known as “Nonna Giovanna.”
The launch event also featured a restored Fiat city bus from the 1970s, displayed in Piazza Unità through a collaboration with the inBUSclub Association. The historic vehicle served Trieste’s public transport network from 1977 to 1997 and was presented as a tribute to the city’s civic heritage.
Although the service is primarily dedicated to primary schools, Milocchi said the municipality has also received requests from kindergartens and will seek to expand coverage where volunteer availability allows.
