Members
Member Organisation
2008
Rete degli Studenti Medi (RSM) is an Italian High School Students’ Union born in 2008 with the alliance of three national associations active in Italy during the first years of the 21 century: ReDS, ISIM and SDS. From the beginning, RSM has fought against government public school system cuts and in 2008 as part of the national student movement “L’Onda” (The Wave), RSM organised rallies to oppose the national school reform (called Gelmini reform) which was considered going against students and teachers’ rights. Within this period, there was a successful cooperation with the University Students’ Union (UdU) and the main National Trade Union (CGIL). As one of the biggest Italian Students’ organisations, RSM has been frequently taken into consideration by the national government on matters related to educational reforms. For example in 2015, when the so called “Buona Scuola” reform was developed by the government, RSM represented students’ opinions (in contrast to this reform), attending meetings at the Ministry of Education, with main political parties offices, and at the Revolution Camp 2015 (summer camp) with the presence of the Italian Minister of Education, Stefania Giannini. Rete degli Studenti Medi fights also to achieve measures in favour of students’ rights at regional and local level, particularly for lower prices of local transports, for better conditions of school buildings, and for the right of all young Italian citizens to attend high school, without any kind of social, ethnic, regional or gender discrimination. To react against the high price of school books, RSM has been organising Second Hand School Book Markets all around the country, over the last years. RSM is also active against mafia, and since 2015, together with main Italian anti-mafia associations, it organises “Campi della Legalità”: summer camps taking place in 9 Italian regions where young volunteers work on territories confiscated from the mafia, and learn about the history of the anti-mafia movement. RSM supports also students’ cultural activities, several local associations which are part of Rete degli Studenti Medi have cultural centres where it is possible to join debates, workshops and concerts. The biggest event organised by Rete is the “Revolution Camp”, a summer camp with debates, assemblies and concerts, which involves every year (since 2012) more than 1000 students from all over Italy.
To be part of Rete degli Studenti Medi it is necessary to attend Italian secondary school, with no difference between students active in general secondary and secondary vocational education. RSM members come from every kind of socio-cultural backgrounds.
Number of members: Rete degli Studenti Medi has more than 10,000 members based in 13 Italian regions.
RSM fights for a public high school system which respect education as a human right and which should include all young Italian citizens. RSM is against of any kind of discrimination, racism, fascism and violence, defending Italian constitutional values and democratic principles. It supports gender equality and LGBTQI community rights. Rete degli Studenti Medi is also active to protect the environment and to combat corruption and mafia. RSM is also against the exploitation of workers’ rights and considers social equality as a necessary characteristic of a democratic system.
- Racism;
- Mafia;
- Homophobia;
- Fascism;
- Supporting Italian constitutional values.
- Rallies in favour of students’ rights;
- Campaigns on topics our society is facing, such as homophobia, racism, sexism, and social inequalities. RSM strongly believes that school and society are linked together and one affects the other;
- Actions to support students to overcome Italian school system problems, for example the Second Hand School Book Market against the high cost of school books;
- “Campi della Legalità”: summer camps organised with other anti-mafia associations to fight mafia and to get to know the anti-mafia movement;
- Promotion of cultural events both in schools and in public places like concerts and art exhibitions.