When exactly does the UFCI's awareness campaign begin?

The campaign kicks off in early September 2026. The main events are: on 5 September with the Greenday in Bellinzona (escape room in the Millestrade van and documentary screening), on 8 September on the occasion of the International Literacy Day with presences from 7 am at the stations of Bellinzona and Lugano, and on 10 September with the evening "The stories never leave you" dedicated to Andrea Vitali in Monte Carasso, at 8 pm.

In how many Ticino cities will the campaign stickers be present?

The stickers with the four slogans (Read, Write, Calculate, Use the computer) will be distributed in the main public spaces of five cities: Bellinzona, Biasca, Chiasso, Locarno and Lugano. The campaign is coordinated by the UFCI (Office of Continuing Education and Innovation) of the Vocational Education and Training Division in collaboration with the Italian Swiss Reading and Writing Association and the Italian Swiss Conference for Adult Continuing Education.

What are the four campaign slogans and what do they mean?

The four slogans are: "Reading makes your life easier", "Writing makes you independent", "Calculating saves you money" and "Using the computer can help you". They represent the fundamental pillars of the basic skills on which the UFCI campaign focuses, inspired by the national campaign "Simply better!". According to DECs, these skills are essential for tackling everyday tasks such as filling out online forms, managing the family budget and buying tickets for public transport.

Why is it important to continually update basic skills?

According to the DECs, basic skills — although fundamental — can weaken over time and require constant updating, especially in a context characterized by increasing digitization. An increasingly digital work and life environment makes it essential to maintain and continuously develop reading, writing, computing and computer skills to remain autonomous, competitive and integrated into society.

Continuous training, the cantonal Ticino countryside kicks off

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 4 September 2026

Bellinzona city center with UFCI continuous education campaign posters displayed in public spaces

The UFCI campaign on basic skills in 5 cities kicked off at the beginning of September. Escape room, docufilm, stations and evening with Andrea Vitali from 5 to 10 September.

Context

In brief

Basic skills campaign (reading, writing, calculating, using computer) starts in September
Stickers in Bellinzona, Biasca, Chiasso, Locarno, Lugano
Greenday Bellinzona 5 September: escape room in the Millestrade van
Literacy Day 8 September: presence in stations and evening with Andrea Vitali 10 September

Key facts

What: Awareness campaign on basic skills (reading, writing, calculating, using the computer)
When: Start of September 2026, events 5-10 September
Where: Bellinzona, Biasca, Chiasso, Locarno, Lugano, Monte Carasso
Who: UFCI (Professional Training Division), Reading and Writing Association of Italian Switzerland, Conference of Italian Switzerland
Inspiration: National campaign 'Simply better!'
Slogan: 'Reading makes your life easier', 'Writing makes you independent', 'Calculating saves you money', 'Using the computer can help you'

At the beginning of September, the Continuing Education and Innovation Office (UFCI) of the Cantonal Professional Training Division will launch an awareness campaign on basic skills. The initiative, coordinated with the Reading and Writing Association of Italian Switzerland and the Conference of Italian Switzerland for Adult Continuing Education, aims to highlight the importance of four fundamental pillars: reading, writing, calculating, and using the computer.

The campaign will be developed through large stickers placed in the main public spaces of Bellinzona, Biasca, Chiasso, Locarno, and Lugano. The four slogans of the initiative — 'Reading makes your life easier', 'Writing makes you independent', 'Calculating saves you money', and 'Using the computer can help you' — take up the message of the national campaign 'Simply better!', adapting it to the Ticinese context.

Why basic skills remain critical

According to the DECS, basic skills are essential for dealing with daily activities that every Ticino resident encounters regularly: filling out online forms, managing the family budget, purchasing public transport tickets. However, these skills are not definitive: they can weaken over time and require constant updating, especially in a context marked by increasing digitization.

For those living in Ticino, the ability to read written instructions, write and communicate, do calculations, and navigate computer platforms is a critical element in modern life. From filling out an online administrative form to managing personal accounts, from email communications to digital purchases, the basic skills of the UFCI campaign are skills directly applied every day. These are not elementary notions but strategic skills to maintain autonomy and dignity in the contemporary context.

Operational details

The September Program: Five Days of Awareness

The campaign calendar is dense and articulated. On September 5 , at the Greenday in Bellinzona, you can take part in an interactive experience in the Millestrade van, set up as an escape room. Here visitors can try their hand at puzzles, applying logical reasoning and reading skills in a practical way.

September 8 marks International Literacy Day. On this occasion, the campaign will be present from 7 am at the stations of Bellinzona and Lugano, making the initiative accessible to those who pass through these main railway junctions.

Docufilm and special evening: the cultural programme

The three films will be screened at different dates and places: 5 September in Bellinzona, 7 September in Locarno and 9 September in Chiasso. This geographical distribution allows those who reside in different areas of Ticino — from Sopraceneri to Sottoceneri, up to the border areas — to access the content without the need for long journeys.

Among the main events is the evening "The stories never leave you", scheduled for 10 September at 20:00 at the Ancient Convent of the Augustinian Sisters of Monte Carasso. The event is dedicated to the writer Andrea Vitali, who will be present. The evening highlights the role of reading as a core competence of the UFCI campaign.

The role of digitalization in everyday life

The UFCI campaign

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Key points

How to participate: the operational calendar for September

If you live in Ticino and are interested in discovering the details of this campaign, the process is simple and free.

Step 1: Align your calendar around the three docufilms. Want to participate in Bellinzona? On September 5. Prefer Locarno (Sopraceneri)? On September 7. Are you closer to Chiasso (Italian border)? On September 9. Each screening is a concrete introduction to the theme of continuous training.

Step 2: Participate in the Greenday in Bellinzona (September 5). If you are in Bellinzona on September 5 — perhaps commuting or taking a break from your work routine — stop by the Greenday and take on the Millestrade escape room challenge. It's a fun way to experience firsthand how basic skills (logic, reading, quick calculation) are applied in real and immediate contexts.

Step 3: Visit a main station on September 8. From 7 in the morning, get in touch with the campaign team at the Bellinzona or Lugano station. It's an ideal moment if you are in transit — perfect for those who start early towards their daily activities.

The special evening and the continuation of training

Step 4: Register for the special evening in Monte Carasso (September 10, 8 PM). For those who intend to deepen the theme of reading and storytelling — and meet the writer Andrea Vitali — the evening "Stories Never Let You Go" at the Antico Convento delle Agostiniane is a moment of reflection and community.

These five days represent the public launch of the campaign, but continuous training does not stop in September. Many Ticino organizations — schools, public entities, cultural associations — offer structured courses on basic skills. For those who are busy and want to develop their professional profile — perhaps to advance in their career, move to a role with greater digital responsibilities, or prepare for a sector transition — it is crucial to identify recognized training programs. The Canton Ticino and its partners have dedicated resources.

If you work in Ticino and are looking for professional development opportunities, or want to check how updated skills can increase your employment prospects in the local market, consult the available job opportunities in the territory. Many Ticino employers explicitly seek candidates with strong digital skills and solid basic skills — and the UFCI campaign is a public signal that this need is recognized at the institutional level.

Source: ticinonews.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly does the UFCI's awareness campaign begin?: The campaign kicks off in early September 2026. The main events are: on 5 September with the Greenday in Bellinzona (escape room in the Millestrade van and documentary screening), on 8 September on the occasion of the International Literacy Day with presences from 7 am at the stations of Bellinzona and Lugano, and on 10 September with the evening "The stories never leave you" dedicated to Andrea Vitali in Monte Carasso, at 8 pm.
In how many Ticino cities will the campaign stickers be present?: The stickers with the four slogans (Read, Write, Calculate, Use the computer) will be distributed in the main public spaces of five cities: Bellinzona, Biasca, Chiasso, Locarno and Lugano. The campaign is coordinated by the UFCI (Office of Continuing Education and Innovation) of the Vocational Education and Training Division in collaboration with the Italian Swiss Reading and Writing Association and the Italian Swiss Conference for Adult Continuing Education.
In which cities are the documentaries screened and on what dates?: The documentary will be screened on three dates and in three different cities: on 5 September in Bellinzona, on 7 September in Locarno and on 9 September in Chiasso. This geographical distribution guarantees widespread access to residents of the different areas of Ticino, from Sopraceneri to Sottoceneri up to the border areas.
What are the four campaign slogans and what do they mean?: The four slogans are: "Reading makes your life easier", "Writing makes you independent", "Calculating saves you money" and "Using the computer can help you". They represent the fundamental pillars of the basic skills on which the UFCI campaign focuses, inspired by the national campaign "Simply better!". According to DECs, these skills are essential for tackling everyday tasks such as filling out online forms, managing the family budget and buying tickets for public transport.
Why is it important to continually update basic skills?: According to the DECs, basic skills — although fundamental — can weaken over time and require constant updating, especially in a context characterized by increasing digitization. An increasingly digital work and life environment makes it essential to maintain and continuously develop reading, writing, computing and computer skills to remain autonomous, competitive and integrated into society.