Vatican and ICCROM Partner to Train African Youth in Heritage Conservation
The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the Fabbrica di San Pietro have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a new strategic alliance aimed at empowering African youth in the field of heritage conservation.
The agreement was signed by ICCROM Director-General Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral and the President of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, His Eminence Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, during a ceremony held at the Vatican on 31 July 2025.
The partnership will focus on promoting African craftsmanship, fostering international collaboration, and enhancing restoration and conservation practices. Central to the agreement is a commitment to build local expertise, protect Africa’s cultural heritage, and open socio-economic pathways for young people through skills development.
“This signing marks the beginning of a meaningful journey, in which two great traditions of knowledge come together… Culture is a bridge, a source of unity and renewal that keeps us human,” said ICCROM’s Director-General, Gujral.
The initiative’s flagship project is a three-year training programme supported by the Government of Italy through its Directorate General for Development Cooperation. The programme will offer African artisans immersive training at the Fabbrica di San Pietro, where they will learn centuries-old craftsmanship and conservation skills.
The programme will use a cascading capacity-building approach, allowing trained participants to return home and share their knowledge within their communities. Institutions in Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, and Tunisia will serve as hubs for this knowledge exchange.
“Through this educational project… we offer young African artists the opportunity to acquire unique skills in cultural heritage conservation… in a spirit of service, authentic fraternity and love for the beauty that leads to God,” said Cardinal Gambetti.
The initiative aligns with Italy’s Mattei Plan, a policy framework aimed at fostering sustainable and equitable partnerships with African nations.
