Fondazione Pesenti ETS is once again partnering with the Giorgio Ambrosoli Civil Association to promote the 15th edition of Civil Virtue Day, taking place on November 23rd, 2023, at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan. This year’s theme, “Hope,” is dedicated to the memory of Ambassador Luca Attanasio, Carabiniere Vittorio Iacovacci, and driver Mustapha Milambo.
Supporting philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives is a core value of Fondazione Pesenti, which has backed Civil Virtue Day since 2018. The Foundation’s mission is to foster impactful social projects that contribute to building a more just and compassionate society.
Presentation of Civil Virtue Day 2023
The theme selected for this year’s Civil Virtue Day is Hope. This virtue was chosen to honor the legacy of Luca Attanasio, an Italian Ambassador and peacebuilder, who was tragically killed in an ambush on February 22, 2021, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The attack, which targeted a World Food Programme convoy, also claimed the lives of Vittorio Iacovacci, a member of the Carabinieri assigned to Attanasio’s security detail, and Mustapha Milambo, the convoy’s driver.
In 2017, at just 40 years old, Attanasio was appointed Head of Mission in Kinshasa. His role was particularly challenging, as the region has been plagued by decades of civil war, deep poverty, political instability, and systemic corruption.
Inspired by Attanasio’s example, this year’s theme—Hope—is meant to be understood as an active virtue: a call to take concrete action in addressing the many crises facing the world today, from systemic injustice in Africa to social and economic challenges within Italy itself.
The event, hosted at the “Giuseppe Verdi” Conservatory of Music in Milan, will follow a well-established format. During the day, the awards ceremony for the competition held in primary and secondary schools will take place, featuring witnesses and promoters of the initiative. In the evening, in the Verdi Hall, the “Giorgio Ambrosoli” Civic Concert will be held with the Orchestra of the Milan Conservatory, preceded by the Giorgio Ambrosoli Lecture, conducted by Ferruccio de Bortoli in the form of a roundtable discussion.
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