Giffoni is the right place to talk about plans for young people. Fabiana Dadone, Minister for Youth Policies, realised this as soon as she arrived at the Cittadella del Cinema, welcomed by Giffoni’s director Claudio Gubitosi. At the beginning of the debate with the young people of the IMPACT! section, the Minister said: “I feel a huge responsibility for the role I play. It is a small ministry compared to others but it has a key role, especially in this moment. We are coming out of a complicated moment for the country. Make your ideas and requests heard. Don’t be afraid to make your voice heard. The thoughts of youth associations hardly ever reach the ministerial palaces, and it would be wonderful if that happened more”.

The subject of the pandemic was central, especially for the young people: “Young people were asked to make a great sacrifice during the pandemic” she said. “We had to give up the possibility of moving around, you couldn't go to school or university. These two years left an indelible mark on each of us”. Then, the meeting focused on an account of the last months, which included a reflection about young people not paying attention to the rules and to the distancing regulations: “We tend to focus on those who make mistakes – explained Minister Dadone – and on what doesn't work. This is how Italy is oftern depicted and this is a damage to our country. I know many more elderly people who met and went out out without wearing a mask than young people who didn’t comply with the distancing rules. I believe that young people are little modern heroes, because they live in such a complicated time. You have done an incredible job, you have stuck together, you have done your lessons remotely, which is a very alienating practice. We should therefore be able to portray young people in a different way and value them much more”.

Then there are young people's expectations and what they would like politics to do for them: “I have seen many young people here – Dadone continued – ready to discuss many issues. But things are not always like this”. And if young people have to play a leading role in politics, voting is the most useful tool for achieving this result: “I am very much in favour of allowing 16-year-olds to vote”, she concluded. “It is a way of making them feel the weight of responsibility for political choices from a very young age, because if you have to go and vote, you try to keep yourself better informed”.