Soverato successfully hosted the X Edition of Euro.Soul Festival, the much-anticipated international event made, promoted and organized by JUMP Association – Gioventù in riSalto. For an entire week, the JUMP team transformed the city into a beating heart of intercultural exchange and innovation, managing about 80 delegates among European teachers and students to discover the territory and the values of international cooperation. The initiative focused on promoting the principles of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, a central theme chosen by the association to guide all the festival debates and workshops.
The main focus of this edition was the synergy between literature and technology expressed by the third edition of the International Contest “Let’s Book Trailers”. This creative contest, launched and curated by JUMP, aims to bring young people closer to reading, protecting the power of books through the language of multimedia videos.
The week was a succession of engaging activities: from the “Mission Impossible” challenges to the educational workshops organized in the schools of the territory with the participation of local and international students.
Students and teachers from different European delegations, together with the students from Soverato schools, discovered the cultural heritage with Gagini Tour in Soverato Superiore and reflected on common values during the workshop on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the soccer tournament ““Schuman Cup”.
Moments of high cultural value were the Lectio Magistralis by Prof.ssa Daniela Marcheschi and the musical performances by Nicola Squillace and the New Vision Gospel Choir.
The highlight of the Euro.Soul Festival was the awards ceremony of the “Let’s Book Trailers” Contest at the Municipal Theatre, an evening rich in energy and enthusiasm. With over 200 booktrailers in the competition, the young participants demonstrated how literature can be transformed into a powerful digital language, capable of breaking down barriers. The Contest involved participants from:
- Bulgaria
- Estonia
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Hungary
To close the evening, the theatre company “I Sognattori” performed the play “Una carta… Mille volti”. Their interpretation gave voice to the values of European citizenship, offering a deep reflection that united different generations in the spirit of integration and culture.
The Euro.Soul Festival 2026 closed with the knowledge that the trip doesn’t end here. While the winners celebrate their goals, the network of collaborations born between schools and international delegations continues to grow. The appointment now moves to the digital platform and on social media, where dialogue among the young European citizens will remain vivid, looking forward to the next edition to keep on telling Europe’s story through magic and reading.
Author: Fabiola Forgione – JUMP staff