Later this month, 30 young people, all aged 20 or under, travel to Rome to receive the prestigious Alfieri della Repubblica award. Translated as a Young Leader of the Italian Republic, the presentation of this year’s awards aim to spotlight spontaneous gestures of solidarity, cooperation, friendship and inclusion.
One of the honorees, William D’Alascio, a 10-year-old from the province of Pisa, will be distinguished for his conscientious efforts to ensure his classmates ill from COVID or in quarantine did not fall behind on their schoolwork. The young lad daily took photos of the classwork information and assignments and stuffed them into the mailboxes of the shut-ins. For these actions he received the nickname Il Postino di Perignano (The Postman of Perignano) the small village where he lives.
President Mattarella said that William’s diligent deliveries of school supplies sets an example to other young Italians to uphold positive civic values and put them into practice. The boy looks forward to traveling to Rome accompanied by mother Silvia, father Enzo, little brother and grandparents to receive the award, a high honor, given by President Mattarella at the Quirinale (the Quirinal Palace, his official residence).
“I can’t wait,” effuses William. “I feel very happy and proud.” (rita kungel)
