Sexuality is lived violently on a porn site. It's healthier for kids to talk about sex and affection in school.

The Monastery of Cellole, located on the hills surrounding San Gimignano, has opened its doors to young people and educators as part of an initiative aimed at fostering reflection and community engagement. From July 27th to August 1st, the monastery will host a week-long summer program titled "The Art of Living and Its Languages," designed for individuals aged between 18 and 35. This event marks a significant step in the monastery's efforts to engage with younger generations and provide them with a space for introspection and dialogue about the meaning of life, contemporary challenges, and ways in which humans seek significance.

Participants will spend six days living alongside the monastic community, sharing their daily routines, activities, and moments of interaction. Each afternoon will focus on a specific theme through discussions with guests who have transformed their professions into existential and human inquiries. On Tuesday, July 28th, Omar Pedrini, a former lead singer of the band Timoria, will speak about the language of music. The following day, poet Marco Piatti will guide participants in reflecting on the language of poetry, while on July 30th, filmmaker Giovanni Covini will explore the language of care. On Friday, July 31st, Brother Emiliano Biadene, a monk, will lead a session focusing on inner life and personal reflection.

In addition to these cultural exchanges, the program includes hands-on activities such as gardening, cooking, and maintenance tasks carried out alongside the monks. There will also be opportunities for discussion, friendship, and participation in monastic prayer. Participation does not require a fixed fee; instead, attendees are encouraged to contribute according to their means, with an estimated average cost of around 250 euros per person. The monastery ensures that financial constraints do not prevent anyone from joining.

For educators, the monastery is organizing a spiritual and educational retreat from August 24th to 27th, focusing on the theme "Training for Life Through Understanding Conflict." This event is part of the broader project "Educating for Life" and features prominent figures such as Franco Vaccari, a psychologist and founder of Rondine Cittadella della Pace, and Alberto Pellai, a pediatrician and psychotherapist specializing in child development. Vaccari will lead a session titled "From Conflict to Encounter: A Path of Renewal," while Pellai will address the topic of "The Fragile Generation: How to Train for Life," exploring current issues faced by youth and the tools needed to navigate life’s challenges.

Brother Emiliano emphasized the importance of creating spaces where individuals can reflect on the aggressive and competitive culture they are immersed in, highlighting how seemingly negative aspects might hold potential for renewal and new beginnings. Those interested in attending can find more information on the monastery's website or contact them via email at ospiti@monasterocellole.it.

Separately, another initiative focused on technology and inclusion was launched by Aulab, BCC Ostuni, and the Federation of BCCs in Puglia and Basilicata. This project aimed to equip young people with advanced digital skills through a free course on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Twelve children aged between 11 and 16 from the Association Villaggio SOS Ostuni participated in this program, engaging in five practical workshops centered around Prompt Engineering and the creation of multimedia content. The curriculum included both theoretical explanations and live sessions, allowing participants to experiment with generating photorealistic images, manga-style illustrations, videos, and original audio tracks.

The program culminated in an individual project called "Visualize Your Future with AI," where each participant used their newly acquired skills to translate their professional aspirations and passions into tangible digital scenarios. This final phase demonstrated how AI could serve as a catalyst for self-expression, enabling young people to visualize their future goals using high-level graphic and communication tools. An exhibition titled "Future Visions - From Dreams to Reality" was held at the headquarters of the Credit Cooperative Bank in Ostuni, showcasing the twelve digital artworks created by the students. This event highlighted the creative and emotional dimensions of the participants' visions for the future, made possible through the conscious use of AI.

Davide Neve, CEO and co-founder of Aulab, emphasized that AI should not be perceived as distant or exclusive to specialists but rather as an educational, creative, and inclusive tool capable of helping young people express their talents and imagine their futures with greater awareness.

Meanwhile, Luisa Ranieri, an actress known for her role in "La Preside," discussed the impact of internet and pornography on young people's understanding of sexuality during an appearance at the Republic of Ideas 2026 in Bologna. She expressed concern over the way young people access sexual education primarily through smartphones and websites, often encountering violent portrayals of sex on adult sites. Ranieri advocated for comprehensive sex and affection education in schools, emphasizing that discussing relationships scientifically is healthier than forming opinions based on online content. Her daughter had benefited from such education at school, and she supported the idea of allowing young people to grow with appropriate tools and knowledge.

Another perspective emerged from an experiment involving the use of AI in academic settings. In one instance, the AI model Claude was asked to compose an essay on enchantment, which was then evaluated by a teacher. This exercise explored the boundaries between artificial intelligence and argumentative writing, raising questions about the reliability and depth of AI-generated content in educational contexts. While the results were intriguing, they also sparked debate about the role of AI in shaping students' critical thinking and writing abilities.