The communities of Pieve Torina and San Ginesio have joined the project to offer emergency housing. ABF’s appeal: “We’re getting back to building opportunity and hope for many people and families, and we need everyone’s help to do so”.
In keeping with its mission of “empowering people and communities” aimed at ensuring that every individual may overcome emergency situations of economic or social hardship to attain decent living conditions so that everyone may have the opportunity to express their full potential, both for themselves and their entire community, the Andrea Bocelli Foundation has already organized trips and accommodation for the first 13 children (aged between 3 and 18 years) and 10 adults in the sites in Macerata where it is present and active with its schools and education projects.
This initiative has become a reality thanks to the generosity and willingness to help of the various communities involved. Muccia immediately made structures available to organize the initial accommodation, food, transport, and logistics together with the Foundation and with the support of the Italian Civil Protection and many volunteers. “The compassion and big hearts of the citizens of Muccia, who showed their willingness to help right from the very first few days of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, has materialized into a “yes, we’re in”, which I shared with President Laura Biancalani during a telephone call in which she asked us to build a network of solidarity to welcome families and children coming from conflict areas. This was a civic duty felt by all, therefore I would like to thank the citizens, volunteers, and local businesses on behalf of the members of the council”, said Mayor Mario Baroni.
After the first phase of reception, during which the families were helped to become familiar with the culture, landmarks, and language supported by linguistic mediators and educators, emergency housing units were assigned, which were made available not only by Muccia, but also by the municipalities of San Ginesio (2) and Pieve Torina (1) in the persons of their Mayors Giuliano Ciabocco and Alessandro Gentilucci, who immediately moved into action to join the network built by ABF.
The children have begun a workshop-based educational pathway of acclimatization and socialization that also supports their learning of Italian with the aim of fostering their inclusion within the community well before they are placed in local schools, which will include the “E. De Amicis” pre-school and elementary school in Muccia, built by ABF in 2019 in 150 days.
“The project, in all its phase, aims to give back to these families a beautiful and safe place where they can begin again and find a new everyday routine,” – says Laura Biancalani ABF President – “Peace is a message of hope. It is a choice that each of us helps to create day by day. We are grateful that we can have the privilege of offering these people who have placed their trust in us the same care that we put into every one of our projects. Because caring for an individual, for every distinct personality, means caring for their uniqueness and potential. Our heartfelt thanks go to the communities of Muccia, San Ginesio and Pieve Torina for demonstrating the big hearts of the Marche people here also, in these areas where the 2016 earthquake that hit Central Italy can still be felt”.
ABF invites everyone to make a tangible contribution with a view to rebuilding a future of opportunity and hope for these families. That is why, with the project “With You, to Shape a Future of Peace”, ABF is launching its appeal: we are looking for basic necessities, such as clothing, soap, detergents, foodstuffs, feminine hygiene products, diapers, medicines (specific and generic) and toys. You can also make financial contributions along with these. Everything is valuable in supporting the project and allowing us to continue the process of integration.
You can support ABF by making a financial donation via bank transfer to Fondazione Andrea Bocelli, Banca Popolare di Lajatico – Agenzia Di Lajatico – Via Guelfi, 2 Lajatico (Pisa) – IBAN: IT53K0523271030000010016699 – BIC CODE: BLJAIT3L – Reference: Emergency in Ukraine – Phase 2, or inform us of the possibility of donating (exclusively new) goods in kind by contacting Aurora Mondavi at the following email address: aurora.mondavi@andreabocellifoundation.org or on +39 3929021680. You can also support us immensely by sharing ABF’s appeal via a newsletter to your network.
