23 July 2010 (Sukhumi) – One minute of silence before the list of the 94 students from “University of Sukhum”, dead during the war. The name of the University betrays the nature of the conflict, distinguishing itself from the University of Sukhumi, based in Tbilisi.

As usual, the delegation of Rondine doesn’t want to be involved in political reasons of each conflict part, keeping on pursuing  its only aim: the cohabitation and the integration of students from all Caucasian countries in order to find out the way of dialogue and friendship.

Soon the Academic Institute will be eighty; it has 3.000 students, 8 faculties, 43 different specialization courses and renowned lecturers. Although the difficulties due to the isolation which inevitably involves the area, the University can fulfill exchange programs with United States, Turkey, Great Britain and allows its young students to study in Rondine.

“We’re trying to take the venom out from the heart of young people and remove angry and fear generated by the war” - has explained President Franco Vaccari. Rondine needs support and  cooperation from all Universities in order to transform angry. The same young people have to give up the historical and political blunt categories of judgment which led the parts of conflict to entrench themselves in their own convictions.

“Young people not only have to know conflict problems and their history, but they have to develop also their transversal competences to learn the dialogue. They have to understand and manage the complexities, can project in a flexible way, arrange plans for the future” - has affirmed Professor Andrea Messeri, Pro-Rector of the University of Siena and Director of Interuniversity Centre G.E.O. – Giovani, Educazione, Orientamento (Young People, Educational Institutions and Orientation).

Universities in conflict areas need to avail themselves of Rondine cohabitation experiences to change the structure of thought, change the History and relationships among peoples, far away from the political strumentalizations and the interest of parts.

AZ