(Finance) – At Palazzo Mezzanotte, the symbolic place of Italian finance, kicks off Young Factor, the international event promoted by Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori in partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo which for the first time will see the Vice-President of the ECB, 6 Governors of European Central Banks, national and international bankers and directors of the most important Italian and foreign media participate together, discussing with 400 European students on how to increase economic and financial literacy among young people and their sense of belonging to the European Union.
“Being aware and responsible European citizens passes through knowledge and these days will contribute to it. Putting the issue of the relationship between community values and growth in financial activities to the heads of EU financial bodies constitutes a significant moment in the dialogue between civil society, represented by young people, and institutions. ” message from the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, the Young Factor international event, promoted by the Permanent Young Editors Observatory and Intesa Sanpaolo. A message sent to Andrea Ceccherini, President of the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori and read by Maria Latella, host of the three days in the heart of Italian finance, Palazzo Mezzanotte. Three days of dialogue – 14, 15 and 16 June – between young people and the protagonists of the European banking system. The Head of State also addressed his greetings “to the young participants in the Young Factor initiative, which will also bring together six governors of central banks of the European Union, for a dialogue on economy and finance. Ask them what they will do for the challenges of our century, in favor of the progress of the younger generations, will be a useful exercise “.
He then expressed his pride in such an event on Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala. Through his message, she wanted to reiterate the satisfaction of the whole city for this moment of dialogue that involves young Europeans.
“Keep young people in the discussion about the decisions that matter. And not outside. In and not out ” with this spirit the initiative was born and so Andrea Ceccherini, President of the Permanent Young Publishers Observatory, he addressed the many young people present in the room “as long as you do not accept the role of subjects when you can play that of citizens. There is no doubt, in fact, that young people are the people who matter most in the world, because young people have the time, which, combined with the right education, can really change the world ”. And addressing the 400 young Europeans present in the room, he urged the students “you see: to be in the game, to play, as in any self-respecting game, you need to know the rules. And nowadays these rules also pass through economic and financial education. An opportunity that cannot be missed, even in terms of a “generational relay”. From a formative point of view, to prevent amateurism and improvisation from spreading, as has often happened. One is not worth one! And competence is a value to be recognized. We are speaking to a generation that, between pandemics, dad and economic difficulties, has undeniably lost chances. Chances of integration. Chances of social mobility. Chances that we have a duty to return them. Even with initiatives like this “. Ceccherini then called back to the role of responsibility of those who lead today and can bring about change: “We have a duty to get that social elevator working again, which seems to have stopped moving, on the ground floor, with no possibility of going up. We absolutely have to unlock that elevator. We absolutely have to go back to picking him up ”. And again, addressing “young people – Ceccherini adds – I mean that ignorance costs money. Economic and financial ignorance is expensive. And it costs a price they cannot afford ”.
Luca Maestri, Apple Vice President and CFO, special guest of the event and historical supporter of the project promoted by the Observatory, was keen to recall how “the relationship with Young Factor was born years ago when Andrea Ceccherini showed me this project, now twenty years old, for the first time. An initiative that involves all Italian high schools with the desire to favor the so-called “media literacy” and therefore critical thinking. Like Apple, we immediately thought that the project should be supported: we did it with a couple of foundations in America, here in Italy we are doing it with the Observatory. Everything the Observatory is carrying out is in line with our values. Media literacy must now become “digital media literacy”, because children are now getting information on digital. It will be important for the Observatory to have a digital platform and carry out this project throughout Europe ”.
The following spoke during the day: Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the ECB; Antonio Patuelli, President of ABI; Christian Sewing, CEO of Deutsche Bank; Andrea Orcel, UniCredit CEO and Ralph Hamers, UBS Group CEO.