A wonderful day at Matteo Ricci Comprehensive School. On the occasion of the European Mobility Week 2025, dedicated to the theme “Mobility for All”, ANCI Lazio, together with Rome Municipality IX, organised a special day at Matteo Ricci Comprehensive School within the framework of the Streets for Citizens project (funded by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme). The initiative aimed to imagine and co-design the future pedestrian street in front of the school, with the direct involvement of children, families, and local residents.
On the morning of September 18th, the pupils took part in an animation and co-design workshop. After a short presentation of the project and inspiring examples of school streets and tactical urbanism from Italy and across Europe, the children took the lead. With drawings, colours, and creative messages, they expressed their ideas for making the street in front of their school safer, greener, and more welcoming. A central element of the activity was the giant snail, chosen by ANCI Lazio as the project’s mascot to symbolize slow and safe mobility: the children embraced it enthusiastically, even continuing to draw on the asphalt at the school entrance, the very space that will be redesigned in the coming months. Their contributions confirmed a simple but powerful message: walking to school together with friends
is not only healthy and sustainable, but also fun and enjoyable.
In the afternoon, the initiative opened up to families and the wider community. Parents and citizens were invited to share their opinions and suggestions in an open dialogue facilitated by ANCI Lazio and the local administration. The discussion was enriched by the intervention of Paola Angelucci, Councillor for Mobility of Municipality IX, as well as representatives of Salvaiciclisti, Clean Cities, and Streets for Kids. Their contributions underlined the importance of collaboration between institutions, associations, and citizens to achieve lasting change in urban mobility. The day confirmed how children’s creativity, when listened to and valued, can inspire a broader cultural transformation. Streets for Citizens does not only aim to redesign physical spaces, but to foster a sense of shared responsibility and community. The involvement of families, schools, associations, and local authorities is a crucial step towards creating urban environments that are truly safe, green, and inclusive for everyone.
#StreetsForCitizens #InterregEuroMED #greenlivingareas
