It's a bit hard to know exactly how much to post. We had a day where we really did get somewhere though, and it's worth a blog post. We invited the public affairs director of the Rome West Stake over. Her name is Barbara and she is not only delightful, but full of information. I get the feeling she is our new best friend! She is arranging an informal meeting with Red Cross Rome and to visit the Via Ramazzini Camp. That visit will be documented later. Just wanted to mention Barbara because she is such a dynamite!
After our visit with Barbara, we went to visit the MEDU medical van which was at the Piazza Spadolini. There is another post about MEDU and we were just visiting all the places that the medical van goes. While at the piazza we ran into a group which call themselves: Baobab Experience. They are on FB. We also found an article/video on this group in the NY Times, Dec 21, 2016. They are a grassroots organization that help the refugees in a very direct manner. The Italian government is doing a great job: They have hotspots where the refugees are brought into the country and then documented and identified. Next they are assigned to a camp. However, all the camps are full! So they have to wait for an assignment. That's where Baobab steps in.
Volunteers from the citizenry of Rome (the Baobab experience) supply food and tents and clothes to those who are waiting assignment to a camp. Once they get into a camp, they are well taken care of. Beds, showers, food, housing, and education. I might also mention here that the movement of refugees, once in Italy is to go North and bypass Rome all together because the word is out that the camps are full. They head up to Milan where the word is that they still have space in those camps. The border towns are struggling to keep up b/c the refugees are not allowed to cross the Italian border into the Northern EU countries (as a general rule)
Momo Hussein was kind enough to let me take his picture. He arrived in Italy this December from Somalia. The tent pictured behind him was his home not too long ago when he was awaiting assignment to a camp. He is now housed at Lungeszza where there are about 200 people. Momo has asked for asylum. Once he gets his green card it's good for 5 years. In the camp, the Italian government is providing Italian language lessons, and will also help him to find a job. Tom asked him what he wants to do for work. He said he would do anything, maybe work in a grocery store? Anything though he said.
He told us there were nine men and two women in his family. All of them were killed but himself. He is on his own.
We talked to several of the volunteers. Myrium has been with the group from the beginning (she is in the video from the NYTimes). The general director is Andrea Costa. (pictured below directing a meeting: held outside because they have no office space!) One they called 'momma' is Rosaria (far left in the photo) Everyone there is a volunteer and they make sure there are volunteers there all day, every day!
The MEDU van is parked near the 'tent city'. As stated in an earlier blog, MEDU provides medical care to the refugees including a psyche clinic which LDS Charities helps to fund. Below: The guys still want to have fun. A couple of empty water containers make a great drum. Just start a beat and you get a gathering! All the pictures are taken at night because that's when the medical clinic operates!
And now to end this post on a lighter note: We had friends, Neville and Penny Rockow from Australia who serve a mission in Brussels come to Rome and we took an outing to Ostia. So fun to visit and catch up on 'home'!!!
After our visit with Barbara, we went to visit the MEDU medical van which was at the Piazza Spadolini. There is another post about MEDU and we were just visiting all the places that the medical van goes. While at the piazza we ran into a group which call themselves: Baobab Experience. They are on FB. We also found an article/video on this group in the NY Times, Dec 21, 2016. They are a grassroots organization that help the refugees in a very direct manner. The Italian government is doing a great job: They have hotspots where the refugees are brought into the country and then documented and identified. Next they are assigned to a camp. However, all the camps are full! So they have to wait for an assignment. That's where Baobab steps in.
Volunteers from the citizenry of Rome (the Baobab experience) supply food and tents and clothes to those who are waiting assignment to a camp. Once they get into a camp, they are well taken care of. Beds, showers, food, housing, and education. I might also mention here that the movement of refugees, once in Italy is to go North and bypass Rome all together because the word is out that the camps are full. They head up to Milan where the word is that they still have space in those camps. The border towns are struggling to keep up b/c the refugees are not allowed to cross the Italian border into the Northern EU countries (as a general rule)
He told us there were nine men and two women in his family. All of them were killed but himself. He is on his own.
We talked to several of the volunteers. Myrium has been with the group from the beginning (she is in the video from the NYTimes). The general director is Andrea Costa. (pictured below directing a meeting: held outside because they have no office space!) One they called 'momma' is Rosaria (far left in the photo) Everyone there is a volunteer and they make sure there are volunteers there all day, every day!
And now to end this post on a lighter note: We had friends, Neville and Penny Rockow from Australia who serve a mission in Brussels come to Rome and we took an outing to Ostia. So fun to visit and catch up on 'home'!!!
Lastly, we did find a lovely spot in the Borghese complex to relax and have a bite to eat.
So much work to be done to help refugees. I'm glad you are there.
ReplyDeleteSuch amazing stories. People are so resilient.
ReplyDelete