06-08-2026 | di COOPI

Remembering Pietra De Blasi, a member of COOPI

Some people leave a lasting mark through their words, their commitment to preserving memory, and their concrete actions. Pietra De Blasi, who passed away in 2024, was one of them.

A writer, literature teacher and poet, Pietra was also a member of COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale and a supporter of its Distance Support Program. Her connection with COOPI was deep and long-standing: she not only supported its projects but also wanted to gain a firsthand understanding of the organisation's work. To this end, she joined a mission to Sierra Leone, where she met local communities and witnessed for herself the impact of international cooperation on the lives of children and their families.

That experience reflects her approach to commitment: not stopping at solidarity, but choosing to learn, listen and bear witness.

Born in Alcamo (Trapani), Italy, in 1954, Pietra De Blasi devoted much of her work to researching and promoting the memory of the Italian Military Internees and the Italian Resistance. She collaborated with cultural associations and with ANPI (the National Association of Italian Partisans) on educational initiatives aimed at younger generations.

Today, we remember her through one of her final publications, “Il valore di una scelta. Il no di due internati militari italiani nei campi nazisti di Thale, 1943-1945” (Marlin Editore, 2024), a book that brings together many of the themes that shaped her life: historical research, family memory, and the value of freedom.

As we remember her with affection and gratitude, we pay tribute to a woman who, throughout her life, continued to believe in the power of solidarity and international cooperation. Her example reminds us that every choice, when guided by care for others and the defense of human dignity, can help build a more just world.