Meet a Changemaker (7)

Monday, 22 December 2008 | posted by Matt_BC
Activism, Guildford 2009

Hi world! So this Monday we're talking about me, Chiara Palieri!

I’m Italian,from Bari (south italy) and despite my young age I can define myself an activist.Activism for me means being active in any field possible, trying to leave this world a little better than I’ve found it. Activism for me is linked to people in the first position.

I personally devoted my life to activism, and activity, incessant movement, impetuosness, courage and determination characterised my life and fill my work.

Being active, doing the possible and the impossible is one of my target. I’m absolutely amazed by the Global Changemakers, because I strongly believe that this event really award our efforts of young activists and help us to believe that together we can really make a change, not only with words. I think that we are all amazing guys,and i really admire what the other people did, are doing and will do for their community. Our voluntary work is different from one country to another, but we do what we can in our realities. So, thank you guys for what you are doing in order to leave this world a little better than you have found it.

Today I’m talking about my activism. My real full time activism, the life lasting one, is being a scout. Probably most of you know about scouting. For those who don’t know about it, I’m briefly explaining what are the main points of Scouting: being a scout involves a constant engagement in your community. You help people in every way possible: poor children, homeless, old people and this really enriches you, you feel it as a moral duty to yourself and the others. It’s a voluntary work,but it becomes a real drug. I’m so proud to be a scout!

I organized one of the demostration against mafia in italy with the ‘Libera terra’ association and with my ‘crew’ i’m constantly involved in such projects.

I believe that a local activism needs to go with an international one: "Acting local,thinking global!!"

Therefore I have been involved in many local community and international activities.

Some of the activities I’ve enjoyed participating in have included: being Italian ambassador for the Charlemagne Youth prize competition, which is one of the most important prize for youth in Europe and promotes active citizenship and cooperation among young people in Europe.

I’m the Italian ambassador for Generation Europe, basically I widespread the news about EU and I see my role for Generation Europe to be essentially the local “eyes and ears” for the organisation, and also to represent the views and thoughts of my local community and fellow students back.

In October I was the Italian parliamentarian in the first  European Science Parliament and I make my contribution in the Aachen Declaration.

I’m active in the AEGEE Europe, which is the biggest European network for students.

These opportunities, with my role as student representative at my school give me both a local and global appreciation of the issues that my generation face now, and will also face as we mature.

I want to help build in my community, not just the local one, but the global one too. We expect to have a good world left for us by our parents, and we have the responsibility to leave a good world for our children. I believe in the youth of the world, I believe in our ability to change our world by changing our local communities, and I have a passion for sharing that message with my fellow youth. As Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouts said “try to leave this world a little better than you found it”, that’s my ambition, and my hope.

Looking forward to see, hug, meet and discuss with you all

"Don't do nothing because you can't do everything.  Do something.  Anything."

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Thank you.”

CHIARA!