Another Christmas…let’s fill these bags with gifts from the heart!
Here’s the bags as they are being made. Sooner or later everyone will get one.
Humanity is a large and immense family… We find proof of this in what we feel in our hearts at Christmas. Pope John XXIII
But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round…as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely. Charles Dickens
We closed the Meet up in Trento with a quick but nice lunch and started travelling towards Trieste. The idea was to spend the evening in the square in front of the train station, where many migrants gather and receive help and some medical and loving care by Lorena, Gian Andrea and the volunteers of the association Linea d’ombra. The place was packed. As for material help, we brought sleeping bags, shoes and warm jackets. As usual though, our aim was to make some personal connections, which did happen, as we are still in touch with some of the people we met that night.
Laura distributed the letters her students wrote and received some in return.
Esther and Ruzanna played cards, some of us sang and we talked till late with several people.
The following morning we went to visit the people in the silos, one of the most horrible places I’ve seen. People stay in tents and when it rains there’s mud everywhere, rats are rampant and it just seems impossible that people can live in those conditions. We sang again as music does have the power to lift up spirits, and shared some food.
In the evening we arrived in Rijeka, at our place, which by comparison was a little bit of heaven. The following day we visited the Migrants spot near the train station, delivered a big box of gauzes and disinfectants a friend donated in Trento, and listened to the story of how Tinka, Damir, Sara and other volunteers started the place over a year ago.
After dinned, we listened to the amazing story of the Aladday family, and their ten years of travelling from Syria, thru Turkey, Greece, Montenegro, Bosnia and finally now in Germany. A father and his three children, thru perils, disappointments and delays.
A very nice article was published in a magazine in Bosnia about their story of love and heroism.
The following day we travelled to Spielfeld, in Austria, on the border with Slovenija. We walked thru this empty huge camp, imagining when it was packed with people, we were told a few thousands.
As it happened in a few places in Bosnia, the Balkan route moved, and left behind empty camps and squats. But the situation is always fluid, wars don’t seem to stop, and people are always looking for a better future.
An amazing Meet Up took place on 27-29 October in Trento, northern Italy. The association Oratorio S.Antonio very generously allowed us the use of hall, kitchen and various spaces. Several families and friends displayed such a high level of hospitality so that this special weekend will never be forgotten.
Here’s the program:
During this time we talked, we sang, we met in workshops, we visited the city, we enjoyed the art exhibition, we ate wonderful food, we did some planning for the future.
But I will let Maddalena describe the Saturday meeting, attended by many more people than we expected.
Walk of Shame. Two days in Trento to participate in the soul of the network and the steps that move the people gathered here from different parts of Europe and the world. They travel along the borders of the Balkan route to support and encourage. “Many are busy bringing emergency care, medicines, shoes…Others carry out political actions. And all this is important.” Explains my sister Anna. “We thought we’d ‘engage’ ourselves. We go empty-handed to share our time.” Rikko says. “12 journeys completed.”
Silvia, who has been helping in refugee camps in Bosnia for years, joins in. Her voice betrays the harshness of a reality that demands attention and understanding. Let’s not forget her.
Then there is Luca, a street entertainer. He brings our gaze to the overwhelming joy of the little ones. And Rodari comes to mind with that quote “Do you know how much the tears of a hungry child weigh?” Here their hunger for lightness thunders brightly.
Laura, a teacher in Amsterdam, instead gives voice to her students. She reads a letter written by one of them to be given to whoever tries to reach the goal, as is done with a game. Either life or death. This way of getting close in order to instill courage is unique.
Six hundred. This number indicates who has passed through the center that hosts us and learned Italian there. Thanks Lilli.
It’s Adil’s turn. He intertwined his path with the walkers mentioned above. His story is a disruptive wind of hope. A moving story of redemption. Adil has now a stable job, a house, a bike and a train he takes regularly every day. When we talk to each other he tells me: “I recently bought some medicine for (…). He’s not better off than me, you know. Many Italians are doing really badly.” Words that, said by someone who has seen hell and his hair turned grey, have the scent of spring. This morning he surprises us by offering us breakfast in a bar in the city: there are 35 of us! Cool! It is his way of expressing gratitude, what he is and feels like: a brother, one of us.
Music and the hospitality of those who give us the warmth of a bed and food continually put us in deep connection. And there is no better language to unite people across borders. “Let’s give peace a chance”. Words that here take shape. Thank you!
Thank you Associazione Oratorio S.Antonio!
From Rusanna:
It was my first experience and I didn’t know what to expect. I was blown away by love, care, trust, humanity and ability to connect so easily and softly to any soul by every member of the WoS. Meeting people on the move in Trieste with a heart of celebration and new hope in humanity, gave me so much energy not to give up on small “drops in the ocean”. After that experience I gained back hope for goodness . Even if it’s in small quantities and not very frequent.
Thank you WoS team for the acceptance, love and energy you contaminated me and others with❤️
From Herman:
Last night we came home after a very special weekend. How shall I describe? I use the words of a Pakistani on the bench on Sunday evening, in Trieste. I sat down next to him. He asked me who all those people (you) were. I told him we came from all over Europe. He said, “I’ve been watching you all night. All these people spread love.” This Pakistani’s experience is also my experience for the whole weekend. We shared love with each other and with those who need it. That was amazing. Therefore I want to say to all of you: Thank you!
The updated version of the video we showed in Trento, two powerful minutes of lots of loving action❤️ The history of the project, the first 13 Walks, almost 4 years of this unique approach, attempting to do our part to rehumanise relationships in Europe.
It is now becoming a nice habit and we are very happy about it… On Lidija’s initiative, after the visit last autumn and July, a few friends from the Fortica center returned to Home. Coffee, biscuits, drinks, music, kisses and hugs were the main ingredients of this other beautiful morning spent together. Definitely worth repeating.
Not everyone made it to come, but they were there with their hearts, yes! It was a wonderful weekend, where we celebrated these first ten years of then Home together, from the construction of the building to the activities carried out in this decade.
Friends and coworkers traveled from various parts of Italy and some met physically for the first time.
During the afternoon meeting, a moment of reflection, also accompanied by lots of beautiful music
Carlo dedicated a beautiful song And Elena a very touching and beautiful poem
The Home received so many presents!
Everyone got busy preparing all kinds of culinary delights
Thanks George and Lois for capturing these smiling faces
Between one song and another we all shared something: a memory, a thought for those who are no longer physically here with us, some wishes…
Happy tenth Birthday, dear Home! A beautiful representation from Cloz, in front of the wooden house brought from Trento and assembled by Cloz volunteers over twelve years ago. Sitting in Michael’s corner.
A few more pictures of other beautiful moments spent together.
See you soon again!
A big thank you to all of you friends and volunteers who contributed to the construction of this center. Without your help this dream would have remained just… a dream.
“I have in my heart the hope and certainty that all the effort we have made, all the sweat, the laughter, the work done, the completed project are the necessary ingredients so that in the near future there will be a place in Veprinac where many people will come together in friendship and joy to build a better world.
Good morning friends! 10 years and it seems like the day before yesterday! I remember when it was still a pile of sand and how it changed year after year… Home is a beautiful representation of how your project has become increasingly solid over the years. Starting from little or nothing and arriving at doing something incredible, everything always with love and a smile. Proud to have been part of it! Unfortunately I don’t think I will be able to be there at the end of September but I will certainly be there with my heart ❤️ A hug to everyone, I always think of you!! Andrea Capozzi
You have created a beautiful project, the Home is a welcoming place full of smiles and supportive and educational initiatives. Well done, these first ten years of life should absolutely be celebrated, I already know that it will be a cheerful and sharing event 😍 I follow you with affection and wish you all the best, you are fantastic 😎 😘🔝🌱💫Lorenza Picollo
More than four years have passed since the promise made to Ivan and the Sunja firefighters to paint the image of St. Florian, their patron saint, on the turret. Covid and other complications were the cause of this delay…
Here we are, at the moment of the promise, August 2019:
And so, one beautiful day in September, Paolo, Irena, Andrea, Elena and I left for Sunja, with a nice load of colors and brushes and… enthusiasm!
First thing, the projection of the drawing, a Saint Florian created by our dear Josip. We had to get used to getting on the ladder truck but everything went fine.
Here are some photos of the work in progress:
The grand finale, the finished work
At the same time, we also worked on the mural created in 2018, brightening up the red of the heart which had faded a little and adding two trees on the sides. Here too, Zvonko lifted us with a smaller truck and Josip, between one photo and another, also gave us a hand.
Some photos of the dear family who hosted us in their wonderful farm, with indescribable hospitality. Thanks Nada and Mika
In Sunja we have many friends who have hosted us and supported our initiatives over the years, starting with the mayor, Mr. Grga. Here he is in the photo (third from the left) with Ivica, the fire brigade commander (second from the right).
Visiting Jelica and Ivo
At the library, where Jasmina works
Other photos that communicate the joy of these days, the gratitude and the bonds of friendship that were formed in this special town and that will always live in our hearts.
(Anna: for a change and since we found an excellent “reporter” in this camp, I’ll pass the word to Michele, one of the fathers who participated in the second Family Camp of the summer).
I arrived at Home yesterday and it was as if 5 years hadn’t passed, as if we had said goodbye the day before and it was immediately hugs, stories and narrations of what has been and what will happen in these days together. The adventure begins with the association For a better world and we are ready.
The mural for the children of a nursery school in Rijeka has been completed with an explosion of colours, creativity and imagination.
“People should be educated about beauty: so that habit and resignation no longer creep into men and women, but curiosity and amazement always remain alive”. (Peppino Impastato)
An exchange of smiles and joy between the participants of the Family Camp and the guests of a nursing home near Labin.
The smile and serenity of grandmother Mica is striking, as despite the adversities of the war she decides to remain in the house and in the places where she lived with her family.
Thrown out by the army and forced to leave her home only to return and stay in the place she loves despite having no water (they bring her water cans once a week) and many other living conditions that we often take for granted.
Disarming how she describes how she goes beyond people’s belonging or ethnicity, how she trusts others and considers the person in their intrinsic value.
Today ends the week at Home where “time has flown” as Gioele reminds me and where the magic of the days and moments spent with people has allowed us to bring home a wealth of experiences, hugs, smiles and visions of the world. A time dedicated to our family and others, through small gestures of care and attention. There are many considerations about this experience, but I will focus on just a few:
– Doing good leads to everyone making a small contribution to change and making this world a better place.
– Hearing how people dealt with a war and its consequences always leads me to consider armed conflicts as a huge idiocy of the human race.
– Some testimonies have allowed us to understand that it is not easy to break the vicious circle of hatred, but it is essential to put out the flames of conflict (even if when you go to the town hall to get your documents you find in front of you the person who tortured you in prison until a few years earlier).
– There are no Serbs, Croats or Muslims, but as grandmother Mica says, people must be considered for what they are, restoring dignity to human beings.
– Seeing situations of poverty and considering how they can be faced with a smile even in the darkest moments helps you reconsider your priorities.
– Telling the positive aspects of others and not stopping at the negative ones allows you to be more magnanimous and give the other person the chance to surprise you.
– When you do something you believe in and carry it forward with courage and passion, something around you moves and help doesn’t take long to arrive. Thanks to all our traveling companions for this adventure relived 5 years later and made special by those who welcomed us and together work for a better world.
Also this year the Family Camps are very popular and in fact we had two.
The first and second day we dedicated ourselves to reviving the walls of the “Fortica” center for the disabled, where our Lidija works. The dads did a lot of cleaning around the external walls and the younger girls got busy in a decoupage workshop.
The day dedicated to clown therapy was also a success… from the choice of clown clothes, to the review of songs in Croatian, to the time spent with the guests of Dom Turnic: it was a day full of selflessness and joy.
Then there was the day spent in the hinterland bringing humanitarian aid to various needy families. Dear Biljana touched everyone’s heart…
…and the language of the heart knows no barriers.
The Pizza Party involved everyone: the preparation of the pizzas, the little waitresses serving around, the welcoming of the guests…
Another exciting moment was going to watch the sunset on Učka mountain. What indescribable colors.
And so this camp also ended, with so much joy and gratitude in everyone’s heart and the promise to continue to live these values in our everyday life.
With passion, because it is the fourth year that the parish of Travagliato (BS) sends us its young people, and it is one of the liveliest, most passionate and full of ardor and joy summer camps.
The first day we went to paint some murals in the rooms of a nursing home near Labin. Our young people satisfied the various requests: who wanted a castle, who a seahorse, who a smurf, etc. Above all, it was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with these lonely people and leave a mark that will remind them of the day spent together, of the singing, dancing and smiling.
And then, the inevitable day in inland Croatia, away from tourist Croatia. To bring humanitarian aid and a lot of humanity.
Practise for the Flash Mob Dance
and then in the Korzo of Rijeka, besides the Flash Mob Dance, we gave some many Free Hugs!
Other murals at the Dom Turnic institution. More than murals, we have “regenerated” the garden and the long table.
The bad weather had done some damage, but don’t worry, our team is coming…
Until next time, and thank you for once again bringing a contagious wave of joy!
Better World Croatia / Per un mondo migliore 