Pact between Unicef and business leaders for next gen

A proverb widespread in different cultures and languages around the world reminds us that if one can enjoy the shade of a tree today, it is because someone planted it a long time ago. The present, in short, designs tomorrow's future and assigns a great responsibility to those who have the strength and power to leave a positive mark.

This is the new challenge of the United Nations Children's Agency (Unicef), which has decided to launch the Shape the future campaign, a project that invites leaders, entrepreneurs and decision makers to collaborate with Unicef with the aim of planning and building a better future for the new generations. A partnership between humanitarian organisations and the private sector that not only generates economic growth but can also leave a positive mark on society by integrating social impact into the business model of companies.

"What we have to leave as a legacy," explains Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group and shaper of Unicef through a philanthropic commitment, "is hope. And it is this that we try to nurture through projects that, thanks to Unicef, have concrete effects. For me it is a form of giving back. I, who had the good fortune to be born in the right cradle, feel the duty to give back in some way what I have had since birth." The collaboration between Unicef and Ferretti was realised through the auction of a Riva anniversary for Riva's 180th anniversary, which realised 1 million Euro from the sale of the boat, entirely devolved to The David Backham Unicef Fund to strengthen child protection services in El Salvador.

Active since 2018 is the collaboration between the Agency and Nerio Alessandri, CEO of Technogym and Shaper of Unicef, which has been realised with the support of the organisation through personal donations and with the payment of the proceeds obtained from the sale of 40 'Technogym Benches' designed by 40 artists on the occasion of the company's 40th anniversary. "It is necessary to redefine priorities," explains Alessandri, "adding people and therefore their health to the environment. Wellness is in fact one of the company's values, along with humility, listening, respect, equality, and sustainability, which means thinking in the long term for the good of the new generations. Values that see us aligned with Unicef".

Unicef shapers also Gabriele Galateri di Genola, President of The Human Safety Net, and his daughter Virginia, Co-founder of Pilot Room. Both share the vision that in order to achieve a better world, it is necessary to intervene from an early age. "All people have potential - explains Gabriele Galateri di Genola, who has been supporting Unicef programmes since 2018 - but not all of them have the chance to develop it, so they must be supported". "It seems banal to say - adds his daughter Virginia, a passionate NextGen - but all children should have the right to access education. And we try to work on this. I would like to be an example for my children so that they too can contribute to building a better world".