Cover Photo: Emese Tárnok
Text: Debra van der Lem
Edit: Sophie Spickenbom
La Freccia Rossa arrived on their red Vespas at Roverway on Sunday around dinnertime. You might have seen them walking around with their red and white neckers or you spoke to one of them near the Scout Museum. There, you can also admire their Vespas. For this article, we had an interview with Vittorio Ardito Bau and Frederica Frattini, who are both part of the Freccia Rossa team.
The story about La Freccia Rossa is one about taking initiative, active citizenship, leaving the world better than you found it and going on an adventure. Those things combined create the neccessary publicity to get their message across. The main goal behind it is the same as during their first trip in 1949: Give voice to the voiceless.
La Freccia Rossa in 1949: To the 3rd World Scout Moot in Norway by Vespa
Imagine war torn countries with little resources to rebuild and renovate damaged buildings and infrastructure. Families torn apart by the devastating effects of violence, disease, malnourishment and artillery. That was the situation just after WWII.
La Freccia was born when a group of bold Scouts decided that children who were mutilated by bombs and other forms of violence during the war needed their attention. They were able to arrange themselves 65cc “Guzzini” scooters and set off from Milan (Italy) to Skjåk (Norway), to attend the 3rd World Scout Moot and spread their message across Europe.
It wasn’t an easy trip travelling on the ravaged roads from city to city and country to country to draw attention to the cause. They were received in many different cities and spoke at the central committee of the Red Cross. They met Italian people who had migrated to other parts of Europe and everywhere they came, they spread the word: “These children have a right to a good life, a normal life. Everybody must engage to help or get people aware of the problem. This is not a problem of Italy, this is a problem of the whole of Europe.” When they returned to Milan, the trip had covered more than 8.000 kilometres.
Over 60 Years Later: Paying Tribute to the Trip of 1949
In 2012, a local Scout group started working on active citizenship, which was also one of the themes for the Italian national Rover meeting in 2014 – which is when they came across the story of La Freccia Rossa’s journey to Norway.
Frederica, one of the organisers of this year’s trip, knew some of the original members of La Freccia Rossa and was able to interview 12 of them. With their help, she was able to find 89 newspaper articles from all over Europe. The journey had been important to all original Freccia Rossa Rovers and they had kept all that they found or what was sent to them: “It was their treasure.”
Afterwards, put all knowledge in a book and since the publication of the book in 2015 there has already been a second edition. You can have a look at it in the Scout Museum.
In 2019 there was a meeting in Skjåk to remember the World Moot there, 60 years earlier and one of the thoughts many had was: “How cool would it have been to do this by moped” – but they did not.
La Freccia Rossa coming to Roverway 2024
Three years ago, they heard about Roverway being held in Norway in 2024. Many who knew about La Freccia Rossa or had contributed in the past felt the urge to repeat the adventure as Roverway would take place exactly 75 years after the first trip. They got together: “We must do something!”
Though 75 years apart, they felt that maintaining the sense of the journey was important: It must be an adventure, it must have impact and add value along the way and interviews need to be held. Taking the same sort of transportation as in 1949 meant getting used to a slower pace and according to Frederica this had an impact on the group, especially the younger ones. “It is important to know that travelling takes up time and the slower you go, the more you can take in the surroundings.”
Just like in 1949, voiceless children are still often overlooked in the big picture, such as, for instance, unaccompanied migrant children and young adults. All over Europe, there are children and young adults who are the only ones surviving the difficult journey to Europe to reach safety and a better future. Arriving in Italy, many cannot reach out to friends and family. Often, they are left to take care of themselves and end up in petty crime to keep alive. There are only a few organisations which take care of these minors and try to take care of their needs and let them stay with families for a little while to let them reconnect with families.
Like in 1949, the journey is all about active citizenship and spreading a positive message and awareness wherever they go. This time not only Italian Rovers would join, but also Rovers and Rangers from Lebanon, Burkina Faso, Chad, Senegal and Ivory Coast. After the summer, they will be able to share their stories in their home countries and spread the message further, even beyond Europe.
Vittorio, who was part of the journey to this year’s Roverway, only joined La Freccia Rossa a short while ago. He heard from the priest of his Scout group that the group was looking for people with an appropriate driving licence, over 18 years of age and willing to ride through hail, rain and sunshine to get to all destinations in time. Because two people dropped out, he and his friend could join the team. He looks back on an adventure which will stay with him forever. He hopes that everyone will stay in touch after they return home.
75 years of La Freccia Rossa – To be Continued?
With a first gap of 63 years between the first ride and the Rover meeting in 2012, the publishing of the book, the reunion and finally the second ride, you might wonder what’s next. For now, there are no ideas on a continuation, but when the voiceless children need them, I know they can count on La Freccia Rossa.
Listen to the newest episode of Roverpodden, our official Roverway Podcast, to learn more about La Freccia Rossa’s long journey from Milan to Stavanger, including highlights, challenges and motivations.