Peace Camp

The Peace Camp has been the first step towards the Universal Forum of Cultures that will be held in Naples in 2013.
Naples organized the fifth edition of the Camp (the previous ones were held in Spain, Uruguay, and Mexico) which was divided in two parts: the first from 5th to 14th October and the second from 16th to 25th October 2008 at Mostra d'Oltremare. The inauguration was held on 5th October at Mostra d'Oltremare. At the inauguration were present the President of the Regional Council Antonio Bassolino, the Mayor of Naples Rosa Iervolino Russo, the Regional Alderman Alfonsina De Felice, the President of the Forum Council Nicola Oddati, the President of the Province Dino Di Palma, Mireia Belil - Director of the Foundation of Barcelona, and the President of the Ente Mostra d'Oltremare Raffaele Cercola

The boys and girls of the camp welcomed the guests and showed them the Mostra, where the work of Michelangelo Pistoletto "Amare le differenze" (Loving differences) is installed. The artwork had been the main attraction of New Year's eve 2008 in Piazza del Plebiscito, and then became property of the Mostra d'Oltremare as a tangible sign of the first Camp in Naples. Over two hundred boys and girls form all over the world participated to the Camp. There was also a group of gipsy children living in Naples and a delegation of emigrants' children that from Campania Region had moved to different countries of the world (Canada, USA, Argentina, and Germany). The participants were hosted in the Youth Hostel of Naples located in one of the most beautiful areas of the city

The Neapolitan edition of Peace Camp has been such an innovative and experimental workshop that Naples decided to insert the new subject of migration among the others.
Besides the traditional playing and educational moments (games, lectures, debates) the boys and girls participated in a series of workshops of art, music, theatre, cinema, sculpture and sport, in which they experienced expressive forms and developed the main educational contents of Peace Camp. In this way the young participants deepened the topics of Millennium Development Goals, established by the U.N., facing the problems of peace, war, fight against poverty and exclusion also thanks to art; that kind of art that faces social issues, is interested in the problems of the world, and promotes intercultural dialogue.

The workshops of cinema, theatre and music organized by Giffoni Film Festival, by the Theatre Mercadante and by the Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti, and those organized by Napoli a gonfie vele (sport) and by N:EA (Sensuk) concluded with some shows at the Theatre Sannazaro and at Mostra d'Oltremare which have also seen the participation of student delegations from Neapolitan schools.

The boys and girls of Peace Camp have also lived some important and meaningful experiences outside Mostra d'Oltremare. On 17th October in the Arena Flegrea they assisted to the free concert of the most famous peace testimonial in the world: the same Bob Geldof to whom we owe the creation and the realization of Live Aid. With him on the stage of the arena there were Rita Marley, Edoardo Bennato, Enzo Avitabile, Piero Pelù, Antonio Onorato, Marco Zurzolo and many other artists. Exceptional host of the evening was Giobbe Covatta, testimonial for AMREF.
On 14th October at the Theatre Sannazaro, they lived another important moment of peace with the concert of the African Children's Choir. The choir of 25 African children, 7 to 11 years old, sung for Nelson Mandela at the Live8 in Hyde Park and at the White House. Besides, Pino De Maio presented two recitals of ancient and suggestive songs, both Neapolitan and not, at the Institute of Re-education of Nisida, a "difficult" place, but an unique occasion of encounter among different social realities. In this respect at the European Centre of Studies of Nisida Island, was represented the musical created during the activities of the workshop for the boys and girls of Peace Camp.

The visits
The participants of Peace Camp did not visit only Naples: in fact besides visiting Città della Scienza, they also visited the Palace of Caserta and the excavations of Ercolano. In the Island of Ischia they assisted to a debate on the "Universal Value of Peace" with Monsignor Filippo Strofaldi, Bishop of the so-called green island, the Imam of the Islamic community Yassin, and Rabbi Pinthas Punturello

Meetings
The boys and girls of the two camps received many visits and a lot of surprises: from the visit of Olympic and Paralympic Neapolitan champions on 6th October to that of the gold medals in Beijing Lavezzi and Navarro, and many other surprises among which Andrea Bocelli's visit on the occasion of his concert in Piazza del Plebiscito

Debates
Those were not only moments tightly linked with other moments of the camp but also occasions to think over subjects like the struggle against AIDS, cultural diversity, and the universal values of peace and sport. Important personalities coordinated the debates: from the representatives of Amnesty International and Unicef, to the Bishop of Ischia Monsignor Strofaldi, the Chief Rabbi and the Imam of Naples, Punturello and Yassin, from aldermen D'Aimmo and De Felice to the Director of the Fundaciò of Barcelona Mireia Belil

Andrea Bocelli's concert
The Universal Forum of Cultures of Naples, together with Campania Region, also sponsored the concert of Andrea Bocelli held in Piazza del Plebiscito on 24th October. Before his performance the artist met the boys and girls from the camp and had them guests of honour on the stage in the magic frame of the square that is a symbol of the city of Naples: Piazza del Plebiscito

Peace Camp

Naples, 5th - 25th October 2008

Workshop presentation