2 min.
Vacation has begun for the young “ambassadors of peace.” The five boys and four girls, aged seven and eight, are: Wanati, Moulud, Mohammed Alì, Salek, Mohammed Lamì, Zainuha, Uagaha, Salma, Salka. The children were officially met last Friday at the Santa Beatrice School in the Circolo didattico Magliana by school administrator Clara Simeone and Matteo Menini, President of the Bambini+Diritti Association.
"This project is a victory for our community," Ms. Simeone declared after inviting the children to exchange the messages prepared for each other. The Saharawi children seated in the first row were still a little timid, but they had only been in Rome for 24 hours.
The party was held on the school lawn with many people present to welcome the children who live most of the year as refugees in the camps near Tindouf in the Algerian desert. A vast multi-coloured buffet was prepared with everyone’s help and the Bambini+Diritti Association sold necklaces, bracelets, and Saharawi photographs to raise funds. The Roma children camped near the school also attended the party. They also presented a short play for the Saharawi children … and just a few minutes later all the children were dancing together!
Fatima Mahfud, representative of the Polisario Front in Italy, accompanied the young ambassadors. She described their current situation and the importance of this Roman soujoun, even in terms of medical cures. In fact, during past editions, many children were able to receive cures for illnesses that had not even been diagnosed in Saharawi.
“What we are asking you”, Fatima underlines, “is to welcome these children to your city and provide them with a bit of normality … their affections are still in Saharawi and that’s where they’ll return after this beautiful trip.”
Roberta Profili, a teacher at the Circolo didattico XXI Aprile, one of the schools participating in the Digital Bridge Project, accompanies her pupils to greet the Saharawi children. They have been exchanging letters and it’s fun to finally see them face-to-face. And all the other schools participating in the Digital Bridge Network were present, too: Newton and Itis Einstein with Prof. Maurizio Pierantozzi.
For further information:
- Project Digital Bridge (pdf)
- A Drop in the Ocean (video)
- Bambini+Diritti: Saharawi Reception 2009
