Rete degli Studenti Medi

Rete degli Studenti Medi is an Italian high-school students' union, created October 4, 2008 from three other student associations active in Italy during the first years of the XXI century.:

Rete degli Studenti Medi cooperates with UdU, the main Italian University Students'Union and with CGIL, the biggest Italian Trade Union, like the UdS before 2006 and the ReDS before 2008.

Since 2016, it's a Candidate Association in the OBESSU, and joins International campaigns and assemblies.

It was part of the National movement "L'Onda" (The Wave) against cuts to the Italian Education System made by the Berlusconi's Government and organized lots of its rallies in all Italian Regions, including the National Strike promoted with the CGIL, November 14, 2008.

The idea of a new national High School Students'Union was developed at the "Student Free Camp", organized by ReDS and SDS, from July 28, 2008 to August 5, 2008 near Latina, with also the presence of ISIM members.

Rete degli Studenti Medi is part of the National Forum of the Most Representative Students'Associations that cooperates with the Italian Ministry for Education.

The association cooperates with High School Students'Unions from France (the UNL) and from Belgium (the CEF) that took part to the "Revolution Camp" the National camp of Rete degli Studenti Medi and UdU, from July 27 and August 8, 2016 in Massa, Tuscany. The FMDL, National French Association of High School Students'centers, was at the Revolution Camp too, as the beginning of a cooperation about services and welfare in Italian and French High Schools. Rete degli Studenti Medi joined the National Assembly and the National Congress of the UNL respectively in November 2015 and April 2016, and took part to the General Assembly of the OBESSU in Amsterdam, the August 11 and 12, 2016, starting the cooperation with other European Students'associations. For the first time as a Candidate Association, RSM had official delegates at the OBESSU Council of Members of December 2016 in Dublin, Ireland.

It organizes each year rallies and cultural events to celebrate November 17, the International Student Day, joining international political platforms from the OBESSU and from ESU.

The association promotes in many Italian cities the "Second Hand School Book Market", an event that takes place in Schools and in Cultural Centers, to allow Italian Students to buy School Books spending less, because the price of School Books in Italy is considered too high and it has negative effects on the inclusion of many Students.

21 May, the association joins the "Day of Memory and Commitment to commemorate all victims of Mafias", with national rallies, for example in Bologna, Emilia Romagna in 2015 and in Messina, Sicily in 2016, and demonstrations organised by Libera in different Italian cities.

Rete degli Studenti Medi, with Arci, Libera, CGIL and UdU organizes the "Campi della Legalità" summer camps in 9 different Italian Regions where volunteers can work on lands that were properties of mafious families, which now are controlled by the State and administrated by these Associations. Volunteers can visit places linked with the fight against the Mafia and they also learn about history of the anti-mafia movement with the help of people that are directly involved.

At a local and regional level, Rete degli Studenti Medi edits several School Students'Magazines, in particular "Il Mancino" is published in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, "Panoptes" in Umbria and "Senza Filtro" in Emilia Romagna.

Some of RSM Provincial Confederations organize cultural activities cooperating with Arci, the biggest Italian cultural association, and there are also Circoli Arci (local Arci clubs) directly supported by RSM members, like in Treviso, and Caltanissetta. Similar activities are coorganized with UdU, CGIL and ANPI.

After the IV National Congress in July 2016, the National Board members are: Giammarco Manfreda (Coordinator, from Tuscany), Giulia Titoli (from Umbria), Elena Turchi (from Emilia Romagna), Jacopo Buffolo (from Veneto) and Marco Blandini (from Sicily).

September 2, 2016 the National Coordination elected Giuseppe Lipari, from the Sicilian Regional Board, as International Officer.

It is a democratic Students'Union that fights for Students'rights and in favour of a Public High School for all Italian citizens. Rete degli Studenti Medi defends the values of the Italian Constitution, it is against each form of discrimination, racism, fascism and fanaticism. It's no linked with political parties, but could be considered a leftist progressive Students'union.