In April and May of 2026, the Igino Giordani Foundation launched the series "And you, what do you think?: Igino Giordani and the transformative power of dialogue today," a series designed to foster dialogue in times of polarization; a proposal designed especially for young people, although open to the general public, with the aim of creating spaces for encounter and reflection in a social context marked by polarization.
The project was developed to mark the anniversary of the death of Igino Giordani and has sought to bring his figure closer to new audiences from a very current perspective: that of dialogue as a path to personal and social transformation.
Over four online sessions, held on Saturdays, April 18 and 25, and May 9 and 16, participants were able to delve into the life and thought of Giordani, while also practicing concrete tools for discussing complex issues without resorting to confrontation. With this approach, the initiative fulfilled its main objective: to foster non-polarizing dialogue, promote active listening, and address sensitive issues from a constructive perspective.
The program was prepared and facilitated in a participatory manner by a group of young volunteers, accompanied by two adults from the team and the Igino Giordani Foundation itself. In addition to the sessions, tasks included documentation, designing materials for social media, and using digital tools that helped to make the experience more dynamic.
With the help of Juan Carlos Duque, The first session was dedicated to presenting Who was Igino Giordani? and why his understanding of dialogue remains relevant today. In the second part, the discussion focused on Polarization and the culture of dialogue, The third session, with practical exercises focused on listening and participation, addressed the topic of... migration, The session focused on looking at others and humanizing the debate, beginning with an interview with Mira, a young woman of Palestinian origin. The final session centered on... peace and, with the help of an interview with Xavier Garí, The expert in nonviolence presented peace not as a distant utopia, but as a possible and concrete task.
With this project, the Igino Giordani Foundation aimed to demonstrate that dialogue is not merely about exchanging opinions, but about learning to look at others with respect, even in their differences. This initiative recaptures the enduring relevance of Giordani's thought and transforms it into an invitation for our time.
If you're interested in learning a little more about Igino Giordani, you can watch this interview here. Alberto Lopresti, historian and expert on Igino.
