The Invisible Fuel: A Personal Story

Behind every successful educational project is a story that breathes life into its values. For Youmanity’s latest initiative, "The Invisible Fuel," that story belongs to its founder, Angelo Iudice.

The project, currently being delivered at the Falcone e Borsellino-Carelli Institute, consists of five intensive group discussions designed to help students grasp the profound impact of compassion. However, the mission of the project was forged decades ago, far from the classrooms of Puglia.

A Leap of Faith and a Roof in London

During the first group discussion, Iudice opened up to the students about his own past. Despite being a retired professional, he shared the same anxieties the teenagers feel today. He recalled his 14-year-old self, longing to come of age so he could leave his hometown and reinvent himself in a world he didn't yet know.

By August 1981—the "fairytale" year of the Royal Wedding of Charles & Diana—Iudice found himself in London, alone and unable to speak English. He started as a hotel cleaner, polishing copper pipes until they shone like gold.

"Nothing can be achieved entirely by ourselves," says Iudice. "If it weren’t for the compassion of total strangers who gave me a roof over my head when I was 19, I would not be here today to share this story."

Iudice recounted the pivotal moment when he met a generous English couple who took the time to listen to his story. They took him in, offering him a spare room in their apartment for two years without ever asking for rent. This act of "Invisible Fuel" provided the stability Iudice needed to eventually build a 25-year career within a Government Body of the United Kingdom dedicated to the prevention of crime.

From Intelligence to Youmanity

Iudice’s journey led him from hospitality work to the world of intelligence and crime prevention. Working within a major UK Government Body, he spent over two decades analysing the root causes of youth vulnerability. He shared with the Carelli students the sobering memory of the many "mugshots" of teenagers hanging on police walls—not "bad kids," but children who had fallen through the cracks of society.

It was this specific professional experience that planted the seeds for his charitable work. "Seeing those mugshots made me realise that social inclusion could play a massive part in crime prevention and youth rehabilitation," Iudice explains. Driven by the belief that compassion could prevent a life of crime before it began, he founded Youmanity in 2008 as a registered charity to bridge that gap.

The Trap of the Gang

During the workshops, Iudice posed a poignant question to the students: "Who is waiting for you when you get home from school? Who asks how your day was? Who makes you a sandwich?"

While the students in Conversano all confirmed they had someone waiting, Iudice explained the harsh reality of life in large cities and council housing estates.

"When there is no one waiting at home, the 'gang' often becomes a surrogate family," Iudice explains. "These groups are often run by older boys who exploit younger kids. Without a father figure or a stable home, lives can be ruined before they even begin. Compassion is the ultimate tool for social inclusion; it is what provides the 'Invisible Fuel' to keep a young person on the right path.”

A Student-Led Narrative

The project used these personal reflections as a springboard for the students' own creativity. After writing anonymous essays on the importance of a "helping hand," the Carelli students engaged in workshops to identify the words that best describe compassion. These expressions became the script for a 60-second digital cartoon.

"I wanted the students to experience how what may seem like 'just another class' can, in fact, produce incredibly professional results," Iudice says. "The students were chuffed to see their own names listed in the credits. It validates their voice and their contribution."

The Grand Finale

The journey concludes on 30th March with the fifth and final group discussion. The final draft of The Invisible Fuel will be premiered before the Principal, the teaching staff, and the student authors.

Youmanity extends its deepest gratitude to the Principal, Prof.ssa Flora Gesumina Marasciulo, her assistant, Prof.ssa Gaetana Seveso, and the tireless bullying prevention lead, Prof.ssa Rosa Pepe, along with the entire teaching staff for their synergy and support.

THE CARTOON AUTHORS (CLASSE 3D): Ginevra Abbagnato • Sara Amodio • Marco Barbarito • Massimo Coppola • Giovanni Danese • Mariantonietta De Falco • Vito Matteo De Girolamo • Leonardo Di Vagno • Simona Fanelli • Denny Fantasia Paradiso • Nicolas Golemi • Alexandre Gongadze • Giovanni Insalata • Marco La Ghezza • Alessandro Laera • Sonia Loiacono • Marco Mancini • Antonio Marotta • Maria Teresa Murro • Suemy Carlotta Tumolo.