What motivated you to apply for the Rise programme*?

I decided to apply mainly because of the possibilities it offered for higher education, especially in the US where I'd like to pursue my research in physics. But it wasn't just about the educational opportunities. The Rise residential summit, scheduled for summer 2025, was a big draw for me. I saw it as a chance to engage with people who are actually making changes in their own communities.

What's unique about Rise is that it's not just about having ideas - it's about connecting with people who have already started their projects, as I have. We all started from the same point - an idea - and then had the opportunity to move forward and collaborate. In a way, Rise is like a trailer for your life. It gives you all the tools to make a change, but these tools are actually your skills and achievements that you'll shape throughout your life.

Your Rise project focused on sustainability. Can you tell us more about it?

My project was inspired by the waste management issues in Rome, where I'm from. Rome produces a lot of waste and has some of the largest landfills in Europe. These create significant problems, especially when they burn due to the hot weather.

I discovered that this wasn't just a problem in Italy, but in many other countries too. So, I focused on waste-to-energy plants - infrastructures that burn waste to produce energy. While this technology is strategic, it has major problems with emissions, including carbon dioxide, dioxins and other pollutants.

My plan was to transform these plants into sustainable infrastructures, eliminating the production of harmful substances. This required studying different chemical processes, reading about possible solutions and new projects, and trying to combine ideas in innovative ways.

What challenges did you face while working on this project?

One of the main challenges was my age. When I reached out to scientists for help, they often didn't take me seriously at first. I found a workaround by writing emails without specifying my age, which seemed to work better.

Another challenge was organising a public event to share my ideas. I had planned to involve other activists, but due to various circumstances, they couldn't participate. Despite this setback, I managed to organise the event on my own and present my ideas to the public in Rome.

How has your experience at UWC Robert Bosch College influenced your journey?

UWC RBC has been transformative. It's a sustainability-focused college that has given me the first steps to really understand what's going on in our world and what changes should be made. Before coming here, I was aware of climate change and some societal problems, but I wasn't globally connected.

Here, I've had the opportunity to understand problems from perspectives I hadn't considered before, talking with people from countries like India, South Africa and Nigeria. This global perspective has greatly influenced my thinking and my projects.

What do you think makes the UWC experience special?

The knowledge we gain here is important, but what really makes UWC special is the community. If you have an idea, you know people will support you and help you realise it. The community is so broad and open-minded that you can always find different viewpoints and support for meaningful projects.

For example, if you want to organise a protest or an event, you can easily find at least 100 people who will come and support you. This level of engagement and support is something I didn't have in my old school. Here, we're united not just because we're part of the same school, but because we share the same values. We're all changemakers, or at least aspiring to be.

How do you see your role in creating change in the future?

I think our role is not to be the change itself, but to be the tools with which people can actually make change. At UWC, we're learning to be not just passive listeners, but active participants in shaping our world. Whether we're making actual changes right now or collaborating with those who are, we're all working towards being effective tools for positive change in the future.

*The Global Rise programme is an initiative that identifies and supports talented young people worldwide, providing them with opportunities to develop their skills and make a positive impact on society. Find out more about the Rise-UWC partnership here.