The project

I protagonisti del fumetto "L'attimo decisivo"

Launched in 2023 to bring civil protection into school classrooms, “The decisive moment” aims to raise awareness among young people about risk awareness and the importance of prevention and emergency preparedness.This educational project is aimed at lower secondary schools across Italy and offers a range of resources for both teachers and students, including a comic book series, in-depth videos, classroom worksheets, video lessons, supplementary materials, and a card game.

The comic book. At the heart of the project is the comic book series “The Decisive Moment,” which follows the adventures of four teenagers united by a special power they use to fight “the Equation”: a powerful adversary representing the inevitability of risk—whether natural or human-induced—whose effects can be mitigated through knowledge and action. Two million copies of each new issue are distributed free of charge in schools around October 13, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The full series is also available online as a flipbook, as a downloadable PDF, and as an audiobook on this website.

In 2026, a spin-off of the project titled “L’equazione racconta – Stories from the Equation” was released, focusing on the historical memory of the most significant events that have shaped the history of Italian civil protection. The first issue, “The Orcolat’s roar,” is dedicated to the 1976 Friuli earthquake of 1976.

A multidisciplinary program. “The decisive moment” is a multidisciplinary educational program designed to address civil protection topics from an interdisciplinary perspective. It is a project developed by the Italian Civil Protection Department, with contributions from professionals in communication and storytelling. The initiative is promoted by the Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Merit, in response to recent regulations that include civil protection topics among the competencies to be developed within the school subject of civic education.

These materials and activities can also provide ideas for lessons in the following subjects: Italian, science, geography, technology, art and visual arts, as well as creative and theater workshops. For more information about the project, please contact attimodecisivo@protezionecivile.it

  • Worksheets providing practical tips and teaching ideas to help you transform comics into interactive lessons and encourage classroom discussion. Check out the worksheets on this page.
  • Video lessons designed specifically to help you explore the civil protection topics covered in class. The videos are available on the @attimodecisivo YouTube channel and on INDIRE’s GIES platform.
    • Comic books. Read the comics from the main series, “The decisive moment,” or the project spin-off, “Stories from the Equation,” in class. Read the print version or view the comics in the online flipbook format.
    • Tips. Watch these short informational videos with your class while reading the comic books. This content can be accessed via the QR codes in the books and can also be displayed on the interactive whiteboard to promote shared knowledge of best practices in civil protection.
    • Audiobooks. Listen to the voices of the main characters for a more engaging and immersive experience. All episodes are available on this page and on the Spotify channel. 

     

      • The card game. Raise awareness of risk through this team-based card game, which promotes active learning by placing students in emergency scenarios where they must make real-life decisions.