The Young Publishers Observatory changes name and lands in Spain

A new name, an old mission. The Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori (Permanent Observatory for Young People and Publishers), born in Florence in 2000, changes skin and becomes 'Osservatorio for independent thinking'. Blue colour, stylised eye, same promise: to help young people think for themselves.

Andrea Ceccherini, president and founder, announces the turning point after twenty-five years of projects - Il quotidiano in classe, Young Factor, Crescere tra le righe - more than a million students involved, over 12 thousand teachers trained and involved in the project. Now the goal is more ambitious: to go beyond the Italian borders. First stop, Spain. At the end of October, the debut with publishing partners such as El País, Abc and La Vanguardia. And with the financial support of Banco Santander, Fundación La Caixa and Fundación Mapfre.

The new brand serves to speak to the world, but also to intercept different challenges. The most urgent one: defending children from online manipulation. "Algorithms are closing us into smaller and smaller worlds," warns Ceccherini. The answer is a tech media literacy project, which teaches them to distinguish between news and propaganda, to use the net without being used.

This is not a simple rebranding. It is a process of internationalisation already underway, now made visible. The Observatory remains true to its origin, but relies on a network of banks, foundations and newspapers to broaden its reach. No longer just reading newspapers in the classroom, but an ecosystem of critical education, from economics to technology.

The promise remains the same: to train young people in freedom of thought. In Italy, where it all began. And outside, where borders are no longer barriers but multipliers of challenges. "Today,' Andrea Ceccherini explained, 'we are renewing a promise: that of training millions of young people to develop the most precious skill there is: the freedom to think for themselves, to hold their lives in their own hands. This is Observatory for independent thinking, a place where the future is not suffered, it is built. Together'.