My name is Matteo, I’m a 24-year-old from Rome and I dream of going to study in Bolzano in September 2025. I am currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in Landscape and Territorial Planning and would like to study Environmental Sciences and Mountain Area Management, with the dream of one day leading our country towards a greener and more sustainable future. My girlfriend, Martina, will be coming with me; we’ve been in a healthy, deep relationship for over three years, and she’ll be studying music therapy in Bolzano too. I hope that this experience away from home will bring us even closer together and that it will give me the chance to ask her to marry me, so part of the money I’m saving will be for that too. Almost a year ago, during my Erasmus experience, I realised that I want her by my side for the rest of my life and I bought her the ring, but given the very modest financial situation we’re in and living in a country that doesn’t support young couples, I found myself having to wait. At the moment, I’m finishing a hectic semester by taking my final exams early so that, from February until the summer, I’ll be able to work (hopefully full-time) to save as much money as possible, and Martina is doing the same. However, given the high rents the city is facing and the cost of living, any help we receive will help us move towards realising our dreams.

I’d like to thank anyone who decides to support our dreams, and I hope that everyone in a situation like ours finds the strength to take a leap towards their future, smiling at life

(I’ve set a very high fundraising target because I’m not entirely sure how it works, but even a small contribution means the world to us).