The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has granted motu proprio 31 honors of Merit of the Italian Republic to citizens who have distinguished themselves for their commitment to social inclusion, solidarity and the common good. Among those deserving of this prestigious recognition is Mary Trapani, 63 years, appointed Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic “for the work done to professionally train children with Down syndrome and mild intellectual disabilities”system. (quirinale.it)
Maria, with the Association The Shop of Simple Thoughts, aims to identify the personal abilities of young people in order to train them professionally and bring them closer to the world of work.
“It is an emotion that I still struggle to metabolize, almost unreal. When I received the phone call announcing the honor, I thought it was a joke. We have always worked in silence, with our hands and our hearts, without seeking the spotlight, but building concrete opportunities for the future. Knowing that the President of the Republic recognized this commitment was a blow to the heart, an overwhelming emotion.
Being counted among the best of Italy, the one that believes in solidarity, inclusion and the value of diversity as wealth, is an immense honor. This recognition belongs to all those who believed in us, who did not give up in front of closed doors but found alternative paths, who transformed hard work and determination into opportunities for growth.
But above all, it is a collective recognition: it is of those who are there, of those who have been there and of those who will be there. Because what we have built is the fruit of a shared journey, made of passion, sacrifice and an unshakable love for change.”
The Bottega dei Semplici Pensieri: a dream come true
The association The Shop of Simple Thoughts was born in 2012 from the initiative of a group of mothers who dreamed of a better future for their children. Starting from a small apartment, they transformed a property confiscated from the Camorra, Mehari House, in Quarto, in a place of growth and opportunity. Today the association works with doors always open, offering activities to the kids and creating opportunities to build authentic relationships.
Through creative workshops, autonomy paths and training in catering, the association has allowed many young people to discover their potential and build a concrete future. Among the most innovative projects is the first street bar in Italy entirely run by disabled kids and, currently in development, a café inside a public school, where they will work side by side with high school students.
“This recognition shows that when you dream together and work with determination, results come. But for us it is not a goal: it is only a step on a path that we want to continue to build, with even more strength, alongside those who believe that a more inclusive world is possible.
We hope that this can open new paths, create meaningful connections and give even more voice to our kids, so that inclusion is not an exception, but the norm.
And I want to say that this honor, for which I am the spokesperson, is not only mine, but belongs to all those people who, in these years, have walked alongside us, sharing sacrifices, dreams and hopes. To those who believed when it seemed impossible, to those who opened doors and built bridges, to those who continue to put themselves on the line every day so that inclusion is not just a word, but becomes reality.”
La The award ceremony will take place at the Quirinale Palace on February 26 at 11:30 am.
Article published on 2 February 2025 - 09:15
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It's nice to see that there are people like Maria who work to help kids with disabilities. This recognition is important and we hope that other associations will follow her example, because inclusion is fundamental for society.