PEr Gustavo Zanoli, the first days in the town of the former West Germany where the year of study abroad would have spent Interculturewere not easy: «It was 1984, I was 17 years old. The prejudices towards Italians were strong. The Germans were used to seeing us getting in search of work. Bringing into a student who made the classical high school, and followed the lifestyle of the locals, it was new. But I found a perfect family, I learned to look at the world in a different way, and I found unexpected resources inside me».
Dr. Zanoli, orthopedic surgeon, is one of the former boys who have spent a year of study abroad in superiors with interculture. For many of them, those left before the web was born and we all glued to the smartphones, the contacts with the house were entrusted to rare and synthetic calls. The difficulties of setting up for themselves and worked on it to overcome themwithout getting help from the AI. The students left for an unknown world, and they returned several. They had something more, that he would have attacked his whole life.
On the occasion of its 70th birthday, the historic voluntary organization traced and interviewed 958, and entrusted to Ipsos a research on the impact that had the mobility experience on them. The responses of the former participants were compared with those of a representative Italian sample. The results make you think, especially in the light of the present: In a world that raises walls, it traces new imaginary boundaries and loses curiosity towards the other, those who pass a year of study abroad go against the current and feel the global citizen feelopen to listening and enhancing relationships. That period lived in the house of others, often on another continent, does not end with the return from mom and dad; takes root. Even when the times remoon against.
Carlo Gagliardi, head of Europe of Deloitte Legal, lived in Texas between 1991 and 1992 thanks to Intercultura. Here we see it during a trip to New York.
Intercultura builds bridges
“The current context, with pushes to the closure, duties and nationalisms, is not favorable. In all countries, not only in ours, there is a closure, an self -decentralized vision “says the Secretary General of Intercultura, Andrea Franzoi. “But young people are sensitive and further on what we adults imagine. And we are not only talking about ours but also peers in Latin America or Asia, who have a great interest in building bridges. With all we can find a communication channel thanks to our values, which they share: peace, intercultural dialogue, inclusion, volunteering, courage “.
We remind you that the international origins of the Association are much more behind 70 years; When, during the First World War, a group of volunteers gave birth to the FS (American Field Service) who in the battlefields loaded the wounded on ambulances. A service taken up and expanded during the Second World War, and then evolved in the 1950s towards cultural exchanges, with a view to dialogue between different cultures and countries. Because of this, In stays abroad, the aim is not so much to learn another language (which you still learn), as to immerse yourself in a different reality, and return to it enriched.
Gustavo Zanoli, orthopedic surgeon, spent a year in the former West Germany in 1984. In the photo, he is in a jacket and tie.
The results of the IPSOS research show that, compared to the other Italians, the former participants know two foreign languages instead of the one of the reference sample. 65 percent work in international contexts (against 35 of others), they love to travel and meet new people. 94 percent feel citizen of the world (against 65) and yet the belonging to Italy is perceived strongly (84 Versus 74).
But Above all, transverse skills develop, the so -called soft skills, As autonomy and decision -making ability, critical thinking, ability to relate to others, leadership. Being adaptable and available to flexibility means that, for 55 percent, it was easy to find/ change jobspercentage that drops to 26 among others. Another interesting fact: 73 percent will positively deal with the challenges and change, a positivity that descends to 38 in the reference sample.
Resist outside the comfort zone
Carlo Gagliardiin Europe of Deloitte Legal, lived for a year in Texas between ’91 and ’92. “The study period abroad has transformed my existence. The real gift is awareness, “he claims. «When you arrive, for the first two to three weeks it is all beautiful and sparkling. Then you deal with reality, and the reality is that you have no story, you are nobody, you have to reconstruct yourself from scratch and, when you do, you buy awareness of what you know how to do, what you can’t do, and where you want to go. The first thing is to look for the strength to resist your comfort zone inside you. I said to myself: I have to find a way to get the best out of this experience. So I did: I invented a new me in the new reality.
“I believe that awareness is the differentiating element between those who are then successful and who does not. Where success – very subjective concept – I measure it with the family around I have and the fact that my life gives me satisfaction and pushes me to go further. This experience is transformative, it triggers a process of acceleration of growth. If you understand in what conditions you are fine and give the best, everything is possible. Those who work on their skills are stronger than those who try to overcome weaknesses. If we work on our strength, the result is exponential».
Nicole Beretta, head of digital marketing and relations with Missoni customers, spent a year in China in 2006. In the photo it is the second from the left.
For Nicole Berettaresponsible for digital marketing and the management of the regions with Missoni’s customers, The added value are the soft skills: «Flexibility, adaptability, thinking out of the box when needed, speed – if one thing does not go you have to look for alternatives – have been a plus in my different work experiences. I have to thank the year in China, in 2006: I was the first foreign student in my school, the beginning was complicated but – thanks to the host family, the companions, teachers and my personal strength – I managed to live a beautiful experience “.
Opening in the world takes the form of personal commitment and activism. For Rachele ReschiglianPhD student in Social Sciences in Padua, in Denmark in 201415 «Seeing a country where gender issues are addressed, everyone volunteers and ecologism is daily practice made me become aware of what I wanted to do in Italy. With my family host I gave a hand in popular kitchens, convivial experiences where meals are used for the elderly and homeless. Volunteering is a pivot of their society, Everyone gives a contribution already from teenagers. From when I returned to Italy, I always tried to make myself useful in the change of my city. I will finish the doctorate and one of the options and one of the options is to return to Copenhagen, where I took the master’s degree: it always remained in my thoughts ».
Rachele Reschiglian, a doctoranda in Social Sciences in Padua, was in Copenhagen in 2014-15. Here he is on his last day of school in Denmark, with his cello next to it.
The value of empathy
Also for Nicole Beretta, “the opening to what I don’t know and the commitment to a better world are now a daily approach for me. Help also comes from one ability I developed in my year abroad: empathy». An indispensable quality also for Zanoli: «As a doctor, I learned to put myself in the role of others and to develop empathy. And I also learned another thing: When you put people on the side of different cultures, the tools must be provided to make the value of the exchange understand. We had them».
Call 2026/27 of Intercultura is online
Until 10 November, those born between July 2008 and August 31, 2011 can be enrolled
In 70 years, 55 thousand Italian students lived a study experience abroad with interculture, and 33 thousand international students were welcomed by Italian families. The new announcement for the school year 2026/27 is online on Intercultura.it. You can register until November 10th. Recipients, the boys born between 1 July 2008 and 31 August 2011. Over 1000 the total or partial scholarships available, to which are added the 1500 Itaca scholarships for the children of public employees. Applications for Italian families will also be open to welcome one of the over 350 international students arriving in September. They were almost all combined but there is still someone waiting to know who will welcome him soon. Opening your home in the world is an experience that enriches the whole family. Info on Intercultura.it/famiglie
© RESERVED REPRODUCTION