In Varese, Luca Abete’s #NonCiFermaNessuno: a workshop on youth vulnerabilities with students at the heart of a unique format; we are not asking for stronger young people, simply more authentic ones.

Ten years later, #NonCiFermaNessuno by Luca Abete returns to the University of Insubria for the fourth stop of the 12th edition of the social campaign. More than 200 students were present in the lecture hall for a motivational event reflecting on youth distress and mental health. “These days there is talk of students who did not make it,” says Abete. “The news of Miriam Indelicato in Rome is the latest in a long, sad list. And every time we ask ourselves why. But perhaps the right question should be another: when did we stop noticing that some people are not coping? With our tour over the past 12 years, and here today in Varese too, I have seen something moving in the opposite direction. Not stronger young people, but simply more authentic ones.” 

In the days leading up to the stop, 15 students took part in the Communication Languages Laboratory led by Luca Abete. A space in which to create social formats and original digital content designed to spread the values of the social campaign. “I set myself a clear goal: to counter ‘benegrazismo’,” Abete continues. “That automatic ‘fine, thanks’ response that hides what people are really feeling. This is where our claim ‘Tell me how you really are’ came from: many young people are afraid to show themselves as vulnerable, believing it to be a weakness, when in fact the opposite is true. With #NonCiFermaNessuno, we are trying precisely to break this pattern, creating a space where people can say ‘I’m not okay’ without feeling out of place.”

Rector Professor Maria Pierro was enthusiastic. “#NonCiFermaNessuno is a very valuable opportunity to give voice to the experiences of younger generations, listen to their needs and foster dialogue on social and cultural issues.” The Rector’s Delegate for Guidance and Placement, Professor Andrea Uselli, shared the same view: “Today the focus is on the challenges of resilience, but also on the desire to make ‘adults’ understand that sometimes distress is much deeper than it may appear.”  

The testimony of Pantea Farsian, an Iranian scientist and Persian poet engaged in research on rare genetic diseases, was deeply moving. “Italy has become a place of serenity for me. The war in Iran, the internet blackout and my mother’s illness did not stop me from pursuing my goals. I have learned that life is not made up of sudden successes, but of the strength to keep moving forward, always.” 

The award winner was presented with an artefact made by the 2.0 artisans of Polilop. In the autumn, she will also be among the protagonists of the highly anticipated awards event involving 50 Italian universities. 

The Euro-Talks, created in collaboration with the Erasmus+ INDIRE National Agency, broadened the community dimension of the project, bringing into the lecture hall the stories of students who have taken part in the programme and who will give life to the fourth episode of the podcast “Va tutto bene. Anzi no”.

The anti-littering campaign is also continuing in parallel. The action in support of the environment led to the installation of RiVending collection containers in the University’s break areas, fostering a virtuous cycle for recycling plastic cups and stirrers. “Sustainability is not only about technology or processes, but above all about behaviour,” explains Alessandro Signore, operational contact for the RiVending project. “Because in the end, everyday gestures make the difference: even something as simple as where we throw away a cup can have a real impact.” 

Inclusion was also discussed in the lecture hall, with the community joining MediaWorld’s “Gaming for Everyone” project, which raised awareness of breaking down barriers in the world of video games through concrete opportunities designed for young people with disabilities. Emotions to experience and take home were captured through the Polaroid shots of MediaWorld’s “Let’s say Cheese” initiative. 

The official soundtrack of the tour, “Stai bene davvero?” – produced by Ondesonore Records and performed by Francesco Altobelli, Sofia Altobelli and the AI artist Composito – marked the rhythm of the day. R101, the tour’s official radio station, also helped amplify the campaign’s values on FM radio. 

The event was enriched by productions for the creative laboratory of Print Solution, while Dna Creative Lab handled its online development. #NonCiFermaNessuno, which has been awarded the Medal of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, continues its journey around Italy: the next stop will be on 30 April in Fisciano, at the University of Salerno. 

#NonCiFermaNessuno 2026, the next stops: 

• 30 April – Salerno, University of Salerno
• 5 May – Palermo, University of Palermo
• 12 May – Naples, University of Naples Parthenope
• 20 May – Reggio Calabria, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria