Introducing the Author of the Children's Natural Rights and his own world: Gianfranc
o Zavalloni
Before I introduce Gianfranco’s Manifesto on Children’s Natural Rights, I will spend a little time introducing the author’s world and my relationship with him. In the conviction that this can offer an appropriate way to have a better understanding of what he wrote. If you know Italian, see his web site: www.scuolacreativa.it.
Some Gianfranco's articles and the Manifesto is displayed on ScuolaER, an Italian important web site for Teachers and in a lot of others Italian web sites (try to make a research through the key words: diritti naturali dei bambini e delle bambine).
During the last ten years, I have met the author of “Natural Rights Manifesto” several times, sharing meals and living as guest in his house, totally surrounded by an energetic beechwood of Sorrivoli, near Cesena (a smiley, friendly little town in bio-Romagna region, Italy, as Gianfranco likes to say).
Other times, we have worked together in small educational projects in Sorrivoli: the small village where he started his teacher job, before becoming headteacher of a primary and secondary school.
Gianfranco is an active participant and founders of the GRTA group since around 30 years.
I have spent enough time with them to appreciate the GRTA works: a small Group of friends and collaborators, really involved in Research on Appropriate Technology, offering a non-violent, critical and alternative view on modern and post modern life and technology. They are still collaborating with “Gaia”: an Italian magazine that give continuity at Alexander Lang thinking.
The range of his activities also spread in art-field for children, having his own puppet show and theatre, called “Baracca e burattini”, a way to radiate cheerfulness and Romagna’s traditions. He is also involved in the “Libera università dei burattini di Sorrivoli” (a Puppets Free university). It is place
d in his small home-village, living his community and participating with neighbours, sharing the purpose to preserve the old Sorrivoli castle (where each year, in the middle of August are happening the puppeteers university events).
One of the latest his project is the “Eco Istituto delle tecnologie appropriate”, that is still growing. In the past it was a parents’ farm; today is an “Ecological didactic farm”, as part of GRTA’s project. A massive complex project, where the Gianfranco father’s organic farm was gradually converted into an open class, involving schools in ecological practical workshops “acting, touching and tasting matter and natural products”.
One of the latest his project is the “Eco Istituto delle tecnologie appropriate”, that is still growing. In the past it was a parents’ farm. Today is an “Ecological didactic farm”, as part of GRTA’s project. A massive complex project, where the Gianfranco father’s organic farm was gradually converted into an open class, involving schools in ecological practical workshops “acting, touching and tasting matter and natural products”. Finally - but not last – with the Banca Etica’s subvention (an Italian Ethic co-operative bank), I have collaborate with Gianfranco to transform the 10 listed Natural Rights into 10 coloured illustrated posters made by Vittori Belli. The posters are supported by a light wooden structure easy to dismantle, easy to move and available in an English version. To have a look at these posters, and to have a better understanding see the following article: One b
y one Children’s Natural Rights Manifesto, where Gianfranco express his own explanation.
Gianfranco Belli collaboration is still flourishing, demonstrated by this list of some their publications:
- “Giochiamo”, the a monthly young scouts magazine;
- “Gaia” a monthly ecologist magazine;
- “Giocattoli creativi” and “Bambini, barattoli giocattoli”, two books on toymaking activities. Both books are produced with Roberto Papetti’s collaboration, editing Le Scienze, Trieste, 2002;
- “Piccoli gesti per salvare il mondo” (Little acts to save the World”.