Keeping World Book Day alive in Nizza di Sicilia was, for ten years, like taming a dragon: anything is possible when the wind is right, but all it takes is a shift for the wings to fold. Support from the administration was crucial, especially during the golden years with Mayor Di Tommaso; later, with enthusiasm faded and the pandemic over, silence took the place of words.
Yet, over the years, I gathered moments that endure.
I found the perfect Medea in the audience, witnessed a granddaughter reading from her great-grandmother’s “Memories of Libya,” saw the “Day Stars” brought to light by a visionary librarian, and transformed the “Corrado Cagli” library into a laboratory of emotions.
Even those you’d expect to be stern, like the local doctor, became a stage performer in that unique atmosphere.
The myth of the Dragon, I always wanted to flip:
UNESCO’s suggestions for the day include Saint George and the Dragon, but I never liked the idea of faith slaying imagination.
So year after year, I invented endings where the Dragon—a universal symbol of creativity—always finds a way to survive.
Dragons exist because we imagine them.
And for one day, every child can be the storyteller, not just the listener.
When the event was listed on the UNESCO World Map, I knew true outreach is about placing an invisible flag in people’s memories.
No need for a standing ovation: just seeing the stories circulate, going viral among participants, is enough.
“The real magic of these days is that the Dragon always flies again,
and with it, the imagination of those brave enough to tell stories.”
Skills gained:
- Design and leadership of cultural and outreach events
- Creative and educational storytelling for children and teens
- Involvement of schools, institutions, families, and communities
- Original event formats and customization of collective rituals
- Intergenerational and motivational communication
- UNESCO event branding and cultural promotion
- Library management, logistics, and media partnerships