To mark the International ICH Day, the UNESCO Chair on Intangible Cultural Heritage and Comparative Law of UnitelmaSapienza University of Rome is promoting the third edition of a nationwide educational initiative aimed at bringing the principles and values of the 2003 Convention into Italian schools.

The project builds on the positive results of the two past editions, which encouraged teachers and students to reflect on living heritage through classroom-based activities. The initiative is based on the conviction that younger generations should be actively involved in understanding, safeguarding and transmitting the knowledge, practices, expressions and traditions that communities recognise as part of their cultural identity.

For the 2026 edition, the UNESCO Chair has developed and shared with participating schools a renewed educational toolkit. The toolkit opens with an introductory section explaining what intangible cultural heritage is, what safeguarding means, and why it is important to integrate living heritage into formal education. It then proposes three activities for each educational level: primary school, lower secondary school and upper secondary school. For each level, one activity is designed to reconnect students with their own living heritage; one activity introduces intercultural diversity and respect for the heritage of others; and one activity explores music not only as cultural content, but also as a powerful tool for learning, participation and intercultural dialogue.

The toolkit is enriched with annexes, classroom materials, activity guidelines, audiovisual resources and teacher support materials, in order to facilitate its implementation in different educational contexts. A dedicated explanatory video will also be made available to guide teachers in the use of the toolkit. In September, the UNESCO Chair will organise three online meetings, one for each school level, to present the activities and answer teachers’ questions before the implementation of the initiative on 17 October.

Through storytelling, discussion, creative exercises, simulations, movement-based activities and guided listening, students will be invited to reflect on the meaning of living heritage, its role in community life and its contribution to dialogue, diversity and sustainable development. The expected outcome is to strengthen awareness of intangible cultural heritage among young people and to support teachers in integrating living heritage into educational practice.

The results of the initiative will be published in a dedicated section of the project website, which will collect, on a voluntary basis and with the required consent, photos, drawings, written reflections and other materials produced by students during the activities.

An educational toolkit will be provided to teachers to facilitate classroom activities on intangible cultural heritage. The toolkit includes:

• an introductory explanation of what intangible cultural heritage is, what safeguarding means, and why living heritage should be integrated into formal education;
• a set of educational activities differentiated by school level: primary school, lower secondary school and upper secondary school;
• activity guidelines for teachers, including objectives, duration, materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results and pedagogical rationale;
• annexes and supporting materials to facilitate classroom implementation, including scripts, maps, visual materials, worksheets, guided questions and audiovisual resources;
• a PowerPoint presentation that can be used by teachers to explain ICH in class;
• audiovisual resources and selected links to videos, documentaries and musical examples related to intangible cultural heritage;
• an explanatory video presenting the toolkit and guiding teachers in its use;

Programme

There is no single fixed schedule for the event, as each teacher will be able to use the educational materials provided by the UNESCO Chair according to the specific needs of their classroom, school level and local context. This flexible structure allows the discussion on living heritage to be adapted to the age of the students, the territorial specificities of each school and the cultural background of the class.

The initiative will take place in participating schools during the month of October. Before the event, teachers will receive the toolkit, supporting materials and an explanatory video.

On the day of the initiative, teachers will introduce the concept of intangible cultural heritage and then conduct one or more of the proposed activities. The activities may include classroom discussion, storytelling, creative writing, role-play, simulations, movement-based exercises, guided listening to music from different cultural contexts, and reflection on safeguarding practices.

Text as provided by the organiser(s).