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About us

In 1996 the The Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC) of the Italian National Council of Research (CNR) established "The city of children" research group for the support and coordination of cities participating in the international project

Thus was born the international laboratory "The city of children", which in addition to the research activity promotes the project to city administrators, deals with the training of operators and coordinates the local networks that have been formed in recent years.

Currently the international laboratory is made up of: Francesco Tonucci, Daniela Renzi, Lorena Morachimo and Marica Notte

Francesco Tonucci

Pedagogist, creator of the international project "The City of Children", since 1966 he is a researcher at the CNR. He belives strongly and tirelessly of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. His educational vision and his proposals to promote children's participation and the right to play are known both in Italy and in Spain, Portugal, France and Latin America.He received 6 Ph.D. honoris causa from Spanish and Latin American universities and also the Unicef 2019 award. He is the author of numerous publications, many of which have been translated into different languages. Under the pseudonym FRATO he signs satirical cartoons on the themes of education, the city, children and play that accompany the reflection of teachers and actors involved in the project "The City of Children".

Daniela Renzi

Clinical psychologist, family psychotherapist, since 2003 she has been part of the research group of the international project "The city of children" within the Laboratory of Psychology of Child Participation. Alongside the promotion and implementation of the project, you combine management, professional training and scientific research. In particular, it deals with studying the effects of the activities promoted by the project (Autonomy of travel and Participation) on children and the various social actors involved, in order to evaluate the impact of the project on children and the community and its ability to produce changes concrete.

Lorena Morachimo

She is an expert educator in child education and environmental education. She worked in the field of teacher training and development education at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. In 2003, she brought “ The City of Children" project to Peru, where she was in charge of coordinating the Latin American Network and the Spanish Network, offering support to cities in the implementation of the project.

Marica Notte

Doctor in Philosophy, after obtaining her master's degree in 2012 she carried out various study and teaching activities which allowed her to deepen her interests: philosophy, specifically epistemology and semiotics, and teaching methods. Since 2020, he has collaborated, first as a scholarship holder, and currently as a research fellow, at the Laboratory of Psychology of Child Participation of the ISTC-CNR, training on the study of autonomy within the "At school alone" project and following all the promotion and dissemination activities of "La città dei Bambini".

She believes a lot in the words: “A city suitable for children is a city suitable for everyone” (Francesco Tonucci).