IB Festival of Hope 2025 | International School of Bologna

Igniting Hope, Creating Impact

Bologna, Italy — Wednesday 9 April 2025 — International School of Bologna (ISB) proudly hosted the International Baccalaureate’s (IB) Festival of Hope, bringing together more than 100 students from across IB schools in Italy to celebrate the power of hope and create a meaningful impact for a better world. The event, held on Wednesday, 9 April, provides a platform for young people to share ideas, address pressing global challenges, and engage in inspiring discussions and activities.

Festival of Hope Italy - International School of Bologna

The Festival of Hope is an IB initiative that fosters spaces for young people to voice their perspectives and transform challenges into opportunities for positive action. By encouraging courageous inquiry, critical reflection, and creative solutions, the festival empowers students to become changemakers within their communities and beyond.

Director General of the IB, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, emphasized:

“Now is not the time for playing it safe. If our global youth (and our planet) are to have the opportunity to thrive as they deserve, then we must face some hard questions. This means courageous inquiry, critical reflection, and creative action. The IB was built on such a pioneering spirit. As we look to the future, we know these challenging times hold significant opportunities for rethinking the way we come together as a global community to explore the complexities and opportunities our youth face.”

At International School of Bologna, the Festival of Hope features a variety of engaging activities, including:

“Our Festival of Hope focuses on Sustainability. Students from grades 9 to 11 discuss issues that are important to them and the Action Projects they are leading or wish to lead as a follow-up to the conference.” — Dr. Jane Fletcher, Mentor for the Festival of Hope student organizing team.

During the conference, students also have the opportunity to take part in Creative Arts Workshops to explore these ideas further. The Festival of Hope is an opportunity for students to collaborate, make new connections, and support each other to create a more sustainable world.

“Hosting the Festival of Hope at ISB has been an inspiring experience. Seeing our students take the lead, engage deeply in meaningful discussions and showcase their innovative ideas has reaffirmed the power of youth-led change.” — Janecke Aarnaes, Head of School

Festival of Hope Italy - Teatro Guardassoni