© UNHCR/Valerio Muscella ARMANDO AUGELLO CUPI CURRENTLY STATELESS, ITALY When I first found out I was stateless, I was very confused. I didn’t understand why, despite being born and raised in Italy, I was not an Italian citizen. My parents left me when I was a baby, and I was raised by an Italian family with no documentation other than a birth certificate. I didn’t learn about statelessness until I was 18, and I’ve spent the last decade exploring my situation. I felt that I was living in uncertainty, because there were not many people who knew about statelessness and could give me the support I was looking for. I was very afraid that my life would stop there – no more dreams, no more ambitions. I owe so much to UNHCR. They have been with me in so many ways, starting with the training they offer through partnerships with non-governmental organizations, to legal support and advice on statelessness cases. UNHCR has been in my heart for many years. During one of the periodic focus groups that UNHCR organizes with stateless people, I had the opportunity to meet others who had similar circumstances to mine. We continued to meet and concluded that Italy lacked an organization that could represent those who have no citizenship. As a result, I co-founded the Unione Italiana Apolidi – a non-profit organization – in 2022, alongside three other stateless individuals. Our organization helps connect and encourage stateless people, as well as giving greater visibility to their voices, stories and memories. Today, although I remain stateless for the time being, I am extremely motivated and committed to the cause. My greatest hope is that, with the start of the new Global Alliance to End Statelessness, more States will ratify the 1954 and 1961 Conventions. I also hope that there will be more and more talk of this issue, because the more media coverage that it receives, the greater the chance of positive action to raise awareness, prevent and resolve statelessness. #IBELONG 9