Speechless, speechless, speechless, I repeat it three times, repeat 3 times because even now a part of me does not believe it.
It all started a few weeks ago, before returning to Benin for a vacation from Asti (I believe to be a rarity), I thought to write an e-mail where I told some situation encountered in the field, of people in need here in Benin and people who could help out there in Italy.
I said this because I knew that in our homes, we were now full of unused things and that although many people can not leave to go to volunteer around in his heart he has a great desire to lend a hand to others.
I tried not to touch almost no one in the portfolio, but was wondering especially the material and so is the incredible happened.
In just 10 days, I saw friends, family, friends of friends and family and many friends have made me the same question: What do you need ?
Cabbage, I do not know!
This is the answer when you have a little 'in need of everything, or rather, when they need it.
Some more attentive, did not need to ask me, once I went to see him, he left his pack.
only mistake was not to provide for the influx of material from several homes.
I will not name because I do not like and especially since chances are good that I forgot someone, but I just want to tell you what I got.
remaining in default with the numbers I can tell you from a single nursery school I received more than 60 pairs of shoes.
the last day in Italy going to pack up and I can not anymore room.
One bedroom and kitchen had more than 10 bags full of shirts, sweatshirts, pants, underwear, raincoats, supplements of all species, large quantities of paracetamol, antibiotics, a stethoscope, tools of Midwifery, lower tongue, gauze pads, pens, pencils, pens, buttons, thread, scissors, needles and gloves .
I returned only
d aun days but it is up to explain a little 'stories.
from the most recent.
Travel: Turin - Paris. In the capital
hen begins the flood, hail for a good hour.
Already on the plane, I can do is sleep.
The delay increases for a problem to start with an engine and three hours late.
Arrive in Cotonou, I'll get your luggage and imagine a mini market at the airport, for the confusion, people yelling, yells, moves.
Normally there should be just passengers in our case we were more than 200, but here in Cotonou you must add at least fifty porters that with a lot of trucks surrounded the roller carrying luggage.
Only after an hour of waiting, I see my two suitcases: 50 kg in two (I have breached the 4 kg).
The surprise came with the pack, not waterproof, and all wet, completely soaked.
result, the clothes are full of water and weighs twice as much.
So I get home and lie down and open all above 25 kg of clothes sizes from 18 months to 4 years.
The most beautiful place came in a shirt, when suddenly the benin, for the second time I welcome you.
the lights go out.
Darkness everywhere, right the phone!
This is a taste.
still do not know how to go tomorrow, but I promise to tell you where everything goes.
What I can do is tell a little 'anecdotes.
Start talking about the gloves.
Just back in Italy I had an idea. Following a project on waste collection and knowing the plight of those who open the bags of garbage with bare hands and divide the contents, I thought our Asp and having a friend who works there, I contacted.
I've told my story, or rather that of unskilled workers and she sguantati explaining the problems they have in me, however, promised that Asti was the possible.
The potential is already reached on the last day when I did not think more. Meeting outside the hospital, parking lot, as an illegal exchange.
Comes with a box, 45 pairs of gloves, I say once more for the inattentive.
45 pairs of gloves! 90 coats of leather ready for Benin.
V. Thanks, thanks chief V. (Nice gesture!) Asp thanks!
Today, even more than yesterday, I understand how your work is useful and indispensable in our society.
Hats off, thank you!
Other stories, word of mouth has worked, and how! From voice to voice, I received parcels of pharmacies with medicines for children. Thanks
pharmacy yellow and green!
Another technique to help out here, was to get some items made by artisans and bring them up. The proceeds are for them, then they are gone along with bracelets made of ebony and teak trays.
Again the result was amazing and immediate.
For this action I can say that there was the help of two types of "actors".
On the one hand those young group of "Ulysses, Penelope & co. "Other than a bit 'wiser .. I would say, those already with dependent children, the crazy comedians, to put it as a kind of anagram .. Hellenic those of Love and Death.
to you a double thanks for this help I will give to the artisans and what I can give to others.
I can also tell you that, with the help of a perky and sprightly 77enne I can lend a hand with a sewing center, where they form more than 15 years young girls taken from the street, where more than 90 people have learned a job and can now continue.
For this, thanks!
And then there's the friend who calls me to luggage already made, with a Buston of medicines and me sticking them on the fly, or the physician of medicines down boxes with samples and picked up those gains.
of stories worthy of note is the arrival of even a few down, of walking boots and terry bathrobes.
Thanks for these objects impossible.
However, nothing has been lost or discarded.
As I said, I have received so much and although I filled my bags at best, I could not bring down everything.
(Small note: for me right 3 packages of pesto, pine nuts and cheese, shame on all the meats left in Italy!)
At home I was even 4 or 5 bags of shoes and clothes.
How many of you know, there's only Africa, or rather, my Benin who needs your help.
While I make this experience of community service, continue to follow the actions of Piam, a charity Asti, a splash of color in that gray.
with treatments of prostitution, and rehabilitation for some time, fighting and not give in danger concerned human rights, especially for migrants, which is a bit 'to their knowledge, a bit' absurd to read, too many suffer harassment .
The Piam has, in its two shelters for women who have come out of prostitution, fifteen children.
is why a good portion of the clothes that I have gone past these children, and this winter when it snows, will be happy to have him in a duvet or free to run with the boots.
Therefore I tell you that so you can always help those in the Piam. It's in our city!
and improve our city is a right, perhaps, but helping other people is our duty!
So if you want to help, go to Via Carducci, near the center Cultural San Secondo.
Whoever welcomes you, is humble, generous and loyal, perhaps quite a few 'angry about how things are going in Italy, but tough to change this trand.
In this week's research I also discovered bundles of the Ursuline nuns on a head: they also take care of pregnant women who can not take care of the child.
They are in dire need of your help, so once your kids will exceed 2 years and do not know what to do clothes, take them on a head.
And if someone knows some other reality, I ask him kindly to tell me, so I can pass the news to as many people as possible.
Here, now you know how things go.
For the moment I still have everything in the house, but soon everything will move. And I will keep you informed.
is strange, now it's raining outside, everything is gray, but inside I was peaceful and there is the sun!
I wrote two lines, maybe more .. all addressed to Asti, happy to have fellow citizens so cool and laid out to others, because obviously connections ciofeche ee letters written in notebooks left over, now that I'm a PC and a connection before our eyes, I can not find the script, no problem .. come .. My head is not empty, even he felt something strong and to transcribe ..
House, feel at home, feel comfortable, be calm and laughing inside. today I feel all this. I am finally back to Adjohoun, you just quell'Adjohoun where there is nothing .. or so I thought maybe ..
was almost a month since I viewed these people, and genuine, that does not smell of the fires of garbage, which I did not laugh with the team comprising 5% of the conversation! was something magical in its simplicity! Departure moving up the market to Dantokpa, bush taxi to Porto Novo and other bike for the track to Adjohoun. Already SNET me there at home, no taxi driver wanted me to rub, the villagers greet you, the kids running after you, there are no cars, motorbikes and unfortunately only a few passing some trucks with their infinite dust. come into town. now a taxi driver stops me, calling me by name, and Dorota, the first one that took me from Adjohoun in Porto Novo, shake his hand, smiling.
Break recharge my phone credit, Mr. Salam Dine in his studio with its apprentices in sewing, hugs, kisses 4, too much time telling me!
front office the other point of view and sewing, my child calling me from behind the back of her mother: TATA TATA says, means big sister, will be long hair, but it's okay! I'm going to embrace him, I remove him from his mother and I took him away for a few minutes, returning greeting everyone. I wonder what brought them laugh. I want to go to the office, there are only Beninese: Sonia is on leave in France, Peter in his office further up the street. A little shy, I look, Cesar, the keeper calls me, how are you! A handshake happy, strong and sincere. Then Abel, a huge smile, a long time away, a hug, Ephrem, his eyes shining, enveloping hug as only he can give me, asking .. the old? well? .. Mom! So they say here! Then Bertin, a smile long sigh, close, eyes meet, I feel joy! Then came Augustine, the driver, I scream, EEEEEEE! You are here! a hug Day .. we party! M cabbage, I was only 20 days left and I realized that I missed too much already!
Cardinal Bagnasco: need a new generation of Catholic politicians In Italy there is "a matter of personal integrity" ROME, Wednesday, July 14, 2010 (ZENIT.org).
- To exit from the situation of cultural crisis that grips Italy a renewed sense of responsibility and a new generation of Catholic politicians. This was stated by the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco.
========== Here are some highlights of the cardinal's thinking that help us understand the urgency of `awakening the teachings of a great sociologist who was the venerable Giuseppe Toniolo.
==========
MUST
'a new generation of Italians and Catholics, while in the throes of today's culture and equip them to live meaningfully within it, feel what the public as an important and high, as capable of scoring the fate of all, and are willing to give it the best of their thoughts, their plans, their days'. "
CREDO
"I think - said - that are increasingly needed lay persons capable of learning to live the mystery of God, practicing the basic goods of freedom, truth, consciousness. The growing urgency of men and women who, with the help of the Spirit, to embody these ideals and translate them into the story is not looking for a less expensive cost in any part of a reasoned, but the most true, that the project unfolds better of God for humankind, and therefore capable of arousing the admiration of others over time, even those who are driven by different logics'. "
"I think the economic criterion of equity is to be followed - he suggested -, each having to give in relation to their capacity. It is then up to those who have political responsibility for addressing the actual situation, declining economic equity within a framework of political freedom and social cohesion. Only then will the three values \u200b\u200bat stake - political freedom, economic justice, social cohesion - it safeguard together. "
COOPERATION
"Just looking back back in time, when you find that logic were to prevail bell and there have been opposed in the name of their 'special' there has been a setback. " "On the contrary, when the mechanism is triggered virtuoso of cooperation, then the forces of cultural, social, economic, and spiritual, are added up and not canceled. I think the current crisis should therefore push Italy to find itself. "
PRINCIPLE SUBSIDIARITY '
"intuition in mind the social doctrine of the Church, which since the days of Pius XI calls into question the principle of subsidiarity - then introduced in Maastricht - to emphasize that what can be made by intermediate realities should not be advocated in central instituted. " "For the closer you are to reality, the more you can accompany with efficiency and prudence - added -. That said, the principle that must be linked with that of solidarity to ensure that those who remain behind are even more backward. " "Certainly it is the Christian hope that is the backdrop, and before that as a trigger, in this season of renewed commitment of Italian Catholics in today's society." **-**
And here `s entire article appeared on July 14, 2010 Zenit.org
In an interview with" L'Osservatore Romano, "the cardinal is back on As already recommended in 2008 by Benedict XVI during his trip to Cagliari and then reaffirmed by his Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. "Affection for the public good - the cardinal pointed out - is dwindling and ever more rarefied is the consensus around the common good, focusing on small vessels and each property without any perspective." "That is why I also made reference to a 'dream' to evoke a direction toward which to walk," he said recalling a message issued on the occasion of the inaugural lecture for the Permanent Council of Bishops last January. "In the inaugural address - he continued - I was referring just to 'a new generation of Italians and Catholics, while in the throes of today's culture and equipped to be sensibly in it, feel it as an important public and high, as capable of scoring the fate of all, and it are willing to give the best of their thoughts, their plans, their days'. " "I think around this focal theme of our society, which calls into question the testimony of the Church, these require the active assistance of all", then emphasized, adding that "as the Italian Bishops we are committed to a specific reflection about it." Replying to the question whether there ethical issues in Italy is a problem of representation policy positions of Catholic President of the CEI said that "rather than a problem of political representation, there is a problem of personal integrity." "I think - said - that more needed to be able to learn the lay faithful to live the mystery of God, exercising the fundamental heritage of liberty, truth, consciousness. The growing urgency of men and women who, with the help of the Spirit, to embody these ideals and translate them into the story is not looking for a less expensive cost in any part of a reasoned, but the most true, that the project unfolds better of God for humankind, and therefore capable of arousing the admiration in time of others, even those who are driven by different logics'. " On the other hand, the economic crisis, the President of the CEI said that "there is still a lot of unemployment" and not being able to see "concrete and reliable signals of trend reversal, even in large industrial companies of my Genoa. Meander serious concerns among the people and pungent. "I refer of course to a discussion of macroeconomics for which I do not have the skills - said -. Just note that if planners can reassure the medium term, considering that the right path has been embarked on, as a bishop I see a lot of people out of work and are troubled by so much suffering and uncertainty about how to get to the end of the month. " "A settlement is because the families have been upgraded, making better use of resources and avoiding waste. But there is a band that had little to spare and that objectively is in trouble. " " I think the economic criterion of equity is to be followed - he suggested -, each having to give in relation to their capacity. It is then up to those who have political responsibility for addressing the actual situation, declining economic equity within a framework of political freedom and social cohesion. Only then will the three values \u200b\u200bat stake - political freedom, economic justice, social cohesion - will safeguard together. " also face the question of loss of the sense of national cohesion, Cardinal Bagnasco observed that "just back in time looking back, it turns out that when logic were to prevail bell and there have been opposed in the name of their 'special' is was a setback. " "On the contrary - he observed - when it is triggered the virtuous cycle of cooperation, then the forces of cultural, social, economic and spiritual, are added up and not canceled. I think the current crisis should therefore push Italy to find itself. "
expressed appreciation for this for the efforts of many, as the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, "constant invitation to find cohesion and convergence, beyond the legitimate differences." During the interview, the cardinal and then touched the issue of federalism, claiming that it is not a "magic bullet" because of "an insight into the mind of the Church's social doctrine, which since the days of Pius XI calls into question the principle of subsidiarity - then introduced in Maastricht - to emphasize that what can be done by the intermediate reality should not be advocated in central instituted. " "In fact, the closer you are to reality, more efficient and can be accompanied with caution - added -. That said, the principle that must be linked with that of solidarity to ensure that those who remain behind are even more backward. " With a look, finally, the Social Week of Italian Catholics to be held October 14 to 17 in Reggio Calabria, the cardinal spoke of "a number of issues no longer be deferred," as "to make business, education, include new admissions in our country, introducing young people in the world of work and research institutions make the transition ", which is now defined in a timely manner the face of the common good, which only provides the sealing unit of Italy and economic recovery. " "Certainly it is the Christian hope that is the backdrop, and before that as a trigger, in this season of renewed commitment of Italian Catholics in today's society," he concluded.
