The title of Arrigo Levi’s autobiography published in 2009 translates into English as “One country is not enough”. This clearly indicates what he had in common with the UWC Movement. Born in Modena in 1926 to a family of Jewish descent, the famed journalist, writer and former advisor to two Italian Presidents of the Republic, fled Italy in 1938 to escape fascist persecution, moved to Argentina and travelled extensively throughout his long and distinguished career. When he discovered UWC Adriatic through his dear friend Corrado Belci, he instantly resonated with the college’s mission to serve as an educational bridge between East and West at a time in which the Iron Curtain still stood tall but a few miles from Duino.
As he explained during the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of UWC Adriatic (1:17:50 in the video below), Arrigo Levi thought that the College retained its full relevance even after the fall of the Berlin Wall because of the novel challenges facing the new world order. Using education as a “most powerful weapon to change the world” – as in Nelson Mandela’s famous quote – was, according to Mr. Levi “a challenge worth confronting”.
Life Patron of UWC Adriatic and former President of the Italian UWC National Committee, Mr Levi passed away on 24 August 202 and is gratefully and fondly remembered in Duino. In the words of the college President, Ambassador Cristina Ravaglia, “The college actively benefited for nearly two decades from Mr. Levi’s dedication to its mission and values and will always be indebted to him for his genuine support”.
