To mark the bicentenary of Saint John Bosco’s "Dream at the age of Nine," the Foundation invited Italian students to share their vision of the future with pointed reflections on: Who do I want to become? What do I want to create? How can I contribute to the well-being of the community by embodying Don Bosco’s Dream?
Students from Salesian schools were asked to represent their aspirations for the future, either individually or as a group, through an original artistic creation—be it a video story, a written narrative, a comic strip, or an illustration.
The contest saw an enthusiastic response. Thanks to the collaboration of representatives from each institution, schools from all over Italy took part, including Salesian institutes from the North (ICP Bra-San Domenico Savio; ILE Bologna-Beata Vergine di San Luca; ILE Treviglio-Sacra Famiglia; INE Mezzano di Primiero-Santa Croce; INE Trento-Maria Ausiliatrice), the Center (ICC Rome-Borgo Ragazzi Don Bosco; ICC Rome-Pio XI), and the South (ISI Messina-San Domenico Savio; ISI Palermo-Villa Ranchibile).
Even more exciting was the review of the submitted works: drawings, comics, short stories, videos, songs, and journalistic pieces—highly personal and crafted with diverse techniques, some using traditional methods and others incorporating innovative approaches, including generative artificial intelligence.
After a challenging evaluation process that considered both the overall quality of the work and the level of independence demonstrated by the students, the DON BOSCO NEL MONDO Foundation announced the category winners through its social media channels on March 20, 2025.
For the “Emerging Dreamers” category (ages 9-12), the first prize was awarded ex aequo to Emma Cornaglia’s drawing-text from ICP - Bra S. Domenico Savio and the video created by Class 2A from ISI - Palermo Villa Ranchibile. The second place went to Class 2A from ILE - Treviglio Sacra Famiglia for their video, while the third place was awarded to the video-song by the Brunato-Cattani duo from Class 1A INE - Trento Maria Ausiliatrice.
In the “Absolute Dreamers” category (ages 13-15), the top two spots were claimed by two students from Class 2A at ICC - Rome Pio XI: Chiara Amico, who won with a drawing-based work, and Elisa Miletto, who took second place with a drawing accompanied by an animated video. Third place went to Class 3A from INE - Mezzano di Primiero S. Croce for their video project.
Finally, the “Established Dreamers” category (ages 16-18) saw another ex aequo victory, awarded to Class 3B from ICC - Rome Borgo Ragazzi for their video and to Andrea Merolle, a student from Class 5B at ICC - Rome Pio XI, whose drawing-text creation is featured in this article.
The top-ranking works in each category will be published in the Salesian Bulletin. The schools of the winning students will receive educational resources or school supplies. All submitted creations will be shared on the DON BOSCO NEL MONDO Foundation’s website and social media channels, and each participant will receive a certificate and a commemorative gift in memory of the contest.
