The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella conferred, motu proprio, thirty honors of Merit of the Republic to citizens who have distinguished themselves for activities aimed at combating gender violence, for ethical entrepreneurship, for an active commitment even in the presence of disability, for the commitment in favor of prisoners, for solidarity, for the choice of volunteering, for activities in favor of social inclusion, legality, the right to health and for acts of heroism.
Mattarella identified, among the many examples, some significant cases of civil commitment, dedication to the common good and testimony to republican values.
Here is the list and the reasons for the new recipients of the Honor of Merit by the Head of State, Sergio Mattarella:
Mattia Abbate
, 35 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For his commitment to offering concrete help to those experiencing situations of disability".
Suffering from a rare disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), he wrote to the editorial staff of a newspaper to report disservices in a stadium which prevented access for disabled people.
Mattia writes well and the newspaper's management asked him to write a column on the world of disabilities.
Mattia Aguzzi
, 37 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For having saved a little girl who fell from a building risking her own physical safety" While walking through the center of Turin and realizing the serious danger of a little girl hanging from the grates of a balcony on an upper floor of a building, without hesitation, he prepared to catch the little girl quickly, saving her life.
Licia Baldi
, 88 years old, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For her constant commitment to educational activities and assistance to prisoners in the Porto Azzurro prison" She has been offering her experience as a teacher to support prisoners for years confined in the local prison and actively contributed to the creation of the school complex within the same prison.
Simone Baldini
, 42 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For the immediate availability offered to the flooded populations of Emilia Romagna" Simone, confined to a wheelchair, is a Paralympic athlete.
He represents the contribution offered by many volunteers who came from all over Italy to shovel the mud from the streets in the Romagna cities hit by the flood.
Lucia Bevilacqua
, 65 years old and her husband Salvatore Pilato 64 years old, Officers of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For their commitment to offering job opportunities and social inclusion to people with disabilities".
Lucia and Salvatore manage the La Melagrana cooperative which provides children with disabilities with suitable skills for entry into the world of work.
Antonio Bodini
, 64 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For having contributed to the creation of Baskin, a sports discipline inspired by basketball that allows people with different abilities to play together".
He is one of the creators of baskin, a sport whose rules allow people with different abilities to play together.
Vincenzo Bordo
, 67 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For the solidarity actions undertaken, for more than thirty years, alongside the poorest people in Seoul" Perfectly integrated among the Korean population, he carries out activities to help the most poor.
He founded "Anna's House" which hosts, assists and feeds the poor and homeless on the outskirts of the city.
Marco Caprai
, 60 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, "For offering work in his winery to immigrant people".
The CEO of an important wine company has given over two hundred asylum seekers the opportunity to find employment in the cellar of his business.
Giuseppina Casarin
, 65 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "To facilitate, through singing, relationships between people belonging to different cultures" With her choir Voci dal Mondo she manages to facilitate relationships between people of different cultures Countries thus becoming an example of social inclusion.
Dario Cherici
, 80 years old, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For his long volunteer activity which also led him to work for populations affected by natural disasters such as the flood in the province of Prato".
His age did not discourage him and he provided aid, together with many other volunteers, to the populations of the province of Prato affected by the flood.
Marina Clerici
, 68 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For having given impetus to a family business aimed at welcoming and hosting people with illnesses or with psycho-social difficulties".
Marina's daughters have now expanded the aims of the association by offering stays on the property to families in difficulty, making them live in an environment surrounded by nature.
Marta Delle Piane
, 35 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and
Gabriele Bona
, 64 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For their support and promotion activity in favor of scientific research on diseases childhood rheumatic diseases and the support offered to hospitalized sick children and their families" With the association for childhood rheumatic diseases (AMRI) they support scientific research by collaborating on the work carried out by the Pediatric and Rheumatology Clinic of the Giannina Gaslini pediatric hospital in Genoa.
Nicola Di Lena
, 42 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For having started an ethical entrepreneurial activity aimed at including people with different disabilities".
After a brilliant experience as a chef in a starred restaurant, Nicola decided to return to his homeland where he founded a pastry shop that offers work to people who are victims of violence or with disabilities.
Maria Eleonora Teresa Galia
, 53 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For the tenacity and constancy with which, in memory of her daughter, she helps sick children by cheering them up with toys and financing investments in the hospital facilities that host them ".
About her She continues with tenacity to fulfill the wish of her daughter Giulia who, before dying, asked to donate toys and help children less fortunate than her.
Francesco Giannelli Savastano
, 74 years old, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For his commitment to the service of sick children and their families by offering them hospitality and assistance to be able to carry out hospital treatment far from their home".
Francesco founded an association which aims to host children with pathologies and their families free of charge, making it easier for them to reach the hospital where they can receive treatment far from their homes.
Marta Grelli
, 26 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For having created an IT platform aimed at advising and simplifying the travel and movement of people with different degrees of ability" The IT platform designed by Marta offers the opportunity for people with disabilities to be able to travel consciously, knowing the places best suited to their needs.
Pietro Literio
, 54 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "To encourage and promote health prevention and care in its territory free of charge by involving professionals who dedicate their time and experience as volunteers".
He has created a clinic that offers free medical visits and screening for the population of his territory.
Leonardo Lotto
, 25 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For having told in a message his necessary change of life and the importance of the value of freedom and of those who fought to guarantee it".
Following a recent accident that forces him into a wheelchair, he graduated and obtained a Master's degree at the end of which he gave a motivational speech that went viral online.
Michele Mele
, 32 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "To disseminate with care and precision the problems of visually impaired people, working to eliminate difficulties and obstacles".
Michele, researcher at the University of Sannio, deals with the problems of visually impaired people in his research activity and identifies new tools to facilitate their daily lives.
Giovanni Neri
, 80 years old, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For the commitment and professionalism shown in offering his experience as a doctor to young researchers dealing with oncological diseases".
Giovanni dedicates his time to supporting research in the field of pediatric oncology, also working to increase the culture of solidarity and sharing in adolescents by going to schools.
Nicolina Parisi
, 82 years old, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "To represent the spirit of solidarity shown by the Calabrian population in offering help after the terrible shipwreck of Cutro".
She immediately offered her willingness to welcome the bodies of the migrants who died after the Cutro shipwreck into the family tomb.
Antonio Piccolo
, 74 years old and
Carlo Sagliocco
, 71 years old, Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For having offered, through the foundation of a Football School, a place where the young people of Scampia can meet and promote social initiatives" .
Antonio and Carlo have been running a football school in the Scampia district of Naples for many years where they offer children the opportunity to share the game and social and cultural initiatives.
Marco Randon
, 64 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For having intervened in countries affected by natural disasters by preparing and distributing bread and focaccias to the populations".
In his life, on several occasions, Marco supported populations affected by natural disasters by preparing and distributing bread and baked goods.
Sarah Sclauzero
, 51 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "To competently address the issue of helping people who are victims of violence".
Sarah, together with other women, founded the anti-violence center APS "Me.Dea" Onlus with the aim of training people in non-violence in all its manifestations.
Gianni Stinziani
, 54 years old, Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For his determination in wanting to create a network in the area to help those who deal with the daily management of children on the autistic spectrum".
Gianni, with the association he founded in 2015 "Il mondo e noi", carries out various projects aimed at strengthening solidarity, inclusion and rehabilitation of people on the autistic spectrum.
Paola Maria Tricomi
, 32 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For her determination in wanting to break down impediments and obstacles so that the right to study of disabled people is guaranteed".
From the beginning of your university career, in discussions with university leaders, you have worked to guarantee people with disabilities the right to study.
Stefano Ungaretti
, 42 years old, Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: "For the energy he expended in wanting to raise awareness among people about the world of first aid" Stefano, after the death of his brother, decided to found an association through which intends both to raise people's awareness of the world of first aid and to equip sports centers and companies with automatic defibrillators.
The award ceremony will take place at the Quirinale Palace on March 20th at 4.30 pm.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA