Our collaboration with the Associazione Trentini nel Mondo, founded in 1957 to promote social solidarity and serve as a hub of support for Trentino migrants and their descendants, has often brought us into contact with stories of families whose origins have profoundly shaped and influenced their lives. In this case, at the beginning of the year, we asked Maurizio Tomasi, editor of the magazine "Trentini nel Mondo," to give us a preview of the initiatives planned for the coming months.
A story like so many others, yet one that speaks to a world both distant and near, bridging past and present, and highlighting the enduring bond with the homeland of our ancestors.
"2026 will be a year full of significant appointments," wrote Maria Carla Failo, president of Trentini nel Mondo, opening her editorial published in the first 2026 issue of the association's periodical. In fact, three significant anniversaries occur this year: the 150th anniversary of emigration to Argentina, the 75th anniversary of emigration to Chile, and the 70th anniversary of the Marcinelle tragedy in Belgium. Trentini nel Mondo will dedicate initiatives to each of these milestones.
For the 150th anniversary of emigration to Argentina, two events are already on the drawing board for South America: one in April at the Chajarí Circle in the province of Entre Ríos, landing place of the first Trentino emigrants in 1876, and another one in October, marking the official date of the start of emigration to the country. But the Association will also commemorate this important chapter of local emigration history back in Trentino.
The event we are already working on, to be held on 9 May at the Vezzano theatre in Valle dei Laghi, is a concert of chamamé, the traditional music of northeastern Argentina, and will feature two internationally renowned guitarists: the Argentinean Facundo Rodriguez (a descendant of Trentino emigrants from Levico) and the Brazilian Yamandu Costa. For this event, Trentini nel Mondo will collaborate with the ArteLaghi Association. In addition to these anniversaries, many other events are planned, such as the Hittona Convention scheduled from 8 to 12 October in Denver, Colorado (USA), the biennial event that brings together the Trentino Circles of the United States and Canada, now in its 26th edition. Additionally, from 1 to 3 October, as part of its events scheduke, Trentini nel Mondo will organise the international conference "Generazione futuro" (Generation Future) in Lavis, sponsored by Eza (Europäische Zentrum für Arbeitnehmerfragen) and Unaie (Unione Nazionale Associazioni di Immigrazione ed Emigrazione). This traditional autumn event provides an opportunity to reflect on current challenges in the world of work. The focus this year will be on Generation Z, exploring ways to strengthen the role of younger generations within workers’ organisations.
Two initiatives stand out in particular for their significance to the Association. The first is the three-week "Residential Italian Course in Trentino," from 2 to 20 March. The twelve participants, all descendants of Trentino emigrants living abroad, were selected through a special application process. The course includes 60 hours of language instruction, two one-day excursions to Trentino, two in-depth workshops per week, and opportunities to participate in professional training activities. Organised in collaboration with Ufte (Union of Trentino Families Abroad), the course is funded by the Autonomous Province of Trento through the Territorial Cohesion, Housing Policies, Enhancement of Trentino's social capital abroad service.
The second initiative is a training meeting for the eighteen Coordinators of the Association’s Circles, representing Argentina, Australia, the Benelux countries, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, the United States, and Uruguay. They will be in Trentino from 6 to 11 July. The role of Coordinator was introduced in the Statute of the Trentini nel Mondo Association during the 2012 annual assembly. It was conceived to facilitate and promote relationships and communication between members, Circles, and the Association, serving as a kind of “antenna” for Trentini nel Mondo in the territories where it operates, capable of receiving and relaying signals from the various social, cultural, and economic conditions of each country.
The busy agenda for 2026 is a continuation of that of the year just past, which was equally "full of significant appointments". These began with the 150th anniversary of the great emigration to Brazil, which provided the impetus for Trentini nel Mondo to organise a trip from 22 May to 9 June. More than thirty participants visited nineteen Trentino Circles in three different states of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo), home to many thriving communities of Trentino descent. The group thus had the opportunity to experience firsthand the enthusiasm and warmth with which descendants of Trentino in Brazil welcome visitors from their ancestral homeland, making them feel instantly among friends — and truly at home.
As reported in the special issue of the Association's magazine devoted to the trip, the three adjectives most often used by participants to describe it were "exciting, interesting and engaging". Opinions were collected through a questionnaire, from which thirty-three different adjectives emerged, all positive.
"Exciting" was the top response. Other recurring adjectives were "instructive, cultural, unforgettable, surprising, formative, educational". Some deemed it "beautiful, fantastic, intense, spectacular and stunning". For others it was "fascinating, adventurous, warm, moving, enlightening, informative, memorable, reminiscent, revealing, meaningful". The meetings with the Circles undoubtedly prompted the choice of adjectives such as "cheerful, friendly, shared, nostalgic, supportive".
The questionnaire also asked respondents to indicate the most exciting moment or event. The answer that summarises all those offered was: "every encounter with people in every single place". Some participants highlighted particular moments: the planting of the Root Forest on 10 June in Nova Trento; the flag-raising ceremony on 2 June in Blumenau; the performance by Italian folk groups in Florianópolis; and "the “Emigrant’s Hymn” beautifully sung by the Stella Alpina Choir in the church of St Olympia, whose chorus recalled the lost dream of one day returning to Romagnano.
