World Polio Day 2026: Global Health, Youth, and Communication at IULM
On Saturday, October 24, IULM University will host World Polio Day 2026, organized by Rotary District 2041: an afternoon dedicated to the fight against polio, prevention, and the role of the younger generations, featuring the launch of the Rotary × IULM Communication Challenge.
“From Peace to Health. From Youth to the Future.” This is the theme of World Polio Day 2026, scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at IULM University. The event will be an opportunity to reflect on Rotary’s commitment to the international campaign to eradicate polio, explore the role of prevention and vaccinations, and consider how skills, participation, and communication can help build a future in which health is a right guaranteed to all.
The event will open with official remarks by the Rector of IULM University, Valentina Garavaglia. The program will continue with presentations on Rotary’s activities and the End Polio Now campaign, as well as a medical overview of polio today and the importance of completing the journey toward its eradication. The event will also feature Federico Romani, President of the Lombardy Regional Council.
During the event, the Rotary × IULM Communication Challenge will be presented—a creative challenge for IULM students introduced by Daniela Corsaro, Professor of Marketing at IULM University. Students will work on a real-world brief to develop a campaign capable of engaging the younger generation with the values and projects of Rotary International. The projects will be evaluated by the end of January 2027, and the winners announced in February. The winning proposal will be developed by Rotary District 2041. The group will also participate in RYLA—Rotary Youth Leadership Awards—in March 2027 and will have