“We want to study. We ask you to help us study so we can be like you.”
These were the words written by two African teenagers, Yaguine and Fodè, in 1999. They addressed this message to European leaders, not just for themselves but on behalf of millions of children denied the most basic human rights, especially the right to education. Hoping to deliver their letter directly, they hid in the landing gear of a plane headed for Brussels. Their journey ended in tragedy when their bodies were discovered, frozen, upon the plane’s arrival.
Their story is not only heartbreaking but also deeply revealing. It reminds us that inequality is not just a distant problem. It is something that defines the daily reality of many young people around the world. Years later, their letter was delivered to the European Parliament, accompanied by over 1,500 letters from Italian students. These letters were not about asking for charity, but about demanding attention, fairness, and accountability.
This event sparked the beginning of S.O.S. Scuola, a project born not from pity, but from the desire to take meaningful action. It did not start as a fundraising campaign or an emergency response. Instead, it was a call to rethink how we value education, how we treat public space, and how we respond to systemic injustice with creativity and participation. The name S.O.S. stands for “Scambiamoci Orizzonti per Sognare,” which means “Let’s Share Horizons to Dream.” It invites everyone to exchange knowledge, collaborate, and take part in imagining better futures together.
S.O.S. Scuola Reclaiming Education Through Collective Action
S.O.S. Scuola is a cultural and social project that works to reduce inequality in education by involving communities in transforming schools into more open, welcoming, and creative spaces. It is based on collaboration, not on donations. The people who participate bring their skills, ideas, and energy to reimagine what a school can be.
The project began in towns like Arsoli and Palermo, where students, teachers, artists, and volunteers came together to renovate classrooms, repaint walls, turn abandoned spaces into gardens, theaters, or media rooms. These efforts are not symbolic. They are practical acts of change, proving that even in places with limited resources, people can build something meaningful when they work together.
In Rome, the project transformed neglected areas into spaces for gathering and learning. In L’Aquila, it brought color and warmth to temporary school buildings still in use after the earthquake, offering children a more human and inspiring environment while they waited for permanent structures. Everywhere the project went, it helped strengthen the bond between students and their communities. It invited people to participate in shaping their environment instead of waiting for others to fix it.
S.O.S. Scuola sees inequality not only in terms of income or infrastructure, but also in terms of whose voices are heard and who gets to make decisions. That’s why it promotes a new model based on shared responsibility and cultural exchange. It creates opportunities for learning and expression that go beyond the classroom and belong to everyone.
Now, as we work to restore and reopen a second-hand digital platform, we are guided by the same principles. This is not a place for asking for donations. It is not a site that relies on charity. It is a space that invites people to take part, to ask honest questions, to share skills, and to explore solutions together. The goal is to create a sustainable and open environment where ideas can grow and connect across backgrounds and borders.
We believe change happens when people come together. Not to be helped, but to help each other. Not to wait, but to act. Not to dream alone, but to imagine and build together.