Newsroom Article #2

We had an intern in Frankfurt, Kimberly Petersen, who wrote a couple of articles for the newsroom.  She did two articles on our projects, and this is the 2nd one.  The first one posted after this one on my blog.






Joined in a Common Cause 

LDS Charities Partners with INTERSOS and UNICEF to Help Refugees

By Kimberly Petersen 

The INTERSOS medical van provides one-stop medical services during the day and shuttles at=risk children to a facility at night.

ROME – In partnership with INTERSOS, LDS Charities provided both medical and educational staff for a new facility for unaccompanied minors and women at risk. Additionally, LDS Charities participated in funding an outreach program to take minors off the streets. The 6-month project began in July 2017.

A Chance Encounter

“Sometimes you think it’s a coincidence, but when you look back you see that you were directed in certain paths,” said Sister Anita Herway. She and her husband, Elder Tom Herway, are the humanitarian missionaries directing the work of LDS Charities in Rome, Italy. It was by chance that they found INTERSOS. 

On a spur-of-the-moment trip to meet other humanitarian groups, the couple met an INTERSOS doctor. As they spoke with him, they were impressed to hear that the organization hosts women and children in a refugee/migrant facility. Whenever unaccompanied minors are found on the streets, INTERSOS picks them up and takes them to their facility for food and shelter. The only problem was the neglected state of the building.

Joined in a Common Cause 

“The old facility was way too small,” commented Elder Herway, “not to mention that it was inconveniently located downtown.” The medical van was also in disrepair. However, because Elder and Sister Herway left on that initial trip, they felt directed to the right people and involved UNICEF, which funded renovations for a brand-new refugee/migrant facility. Ikea donated furniture for the facility and LDS Charities provided funding for the staff and for repair work on the van. “Between UNICEF, Ikea and LDS Charities,” said Elder Herway, “we felt that there was unbelievable coverage for the most vulnerable people.”

The new facility opened on October 11, 2017. “They’re doing so much good,” the couple said of INTERSOS and the other contributors. “Sometimes you don’t see the one that you’re helping,” added Sister Herway, “but you hope that you’re really helping somebody that the Lord intended to be helped. I can’t do all the good, but hopefully we can do a little bit of good, and I feel like we do.”

The next step, according to Elder and Sister Herway, will be encouraging local Italians to help integrate the refugees into their communities.

The new facility provided by the government before renovations

Inside the new facility after major renovations provided by UNICEF and furnished by IKEA.

Newsroom Article #1

We’re All Brothers
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Catholic Leaders Come Together to Celebrate the Integration of Refugees

Team proudly displaying their LDS Charities and CARITAS patches on their new uniforms

FLORENCE, IT- Having self-confidence and a sense of belonging are invaluable luxuries rarely afforded to refugees. In July 2017, LDS Charities stepped in to aid CARITAS in their efforts to bring those luxuries to asylum seekers in Florence. Elder Tom and Sister Anita Herway, welfare missionaries directing the work of LDS Charities in Italy, were contacted to help with the project.

CARITAS-Florence cares for around 650 asylum-seeking refugees in centers spread throughout the city. 85% of those refugees are young males 18-30. According to those in charge of the centers integration is difficult and tensions often arise from differences in language, culture and religion. Their only common bond is their love of soccer. “When they play soccer, they’re all brothers,” commented Elder Herway. Noticing this commonality, CARITAS proposed a project to organize two soccer teams in the centers. They hope it will provide opportunities for the young men to work together, mingle with the community and play against local leagues. Additionally, CARITAS believes that the relationships and the skills gained will be instrumental for their integration.

Enrico Morelli shaking hands with members of CARITASIn October 2017, Elder and Sister Herway attended a ceremony at the San Lorenzo chapel in Florence to celebrate the teams’ integration. 

Sister Herway observed how positive the experience was; “seeing two religious groups come together to support these refugees was inspiring. Everyone was on equal ground and we were so grateful to be a part of this.” Speaking of Morelli, she added that “it’s so wonderful to have local members invested. It makes a huge difference to have strong relationships established with the local leaders. We’re very proud of them and glad to rub shoulders with them.”
As Elder and Sister Herway walked inside the chapel they were amazed to see both soccer teams lined up in their uniforms, holding soccer balls, and standing proudly with LDS Charities patches on their arms and CARITAS patches on their chests. “It just hit us,” said Elder Herway, “they were all beaming and so proud. I learned later that they hadn’t won a single game, but they didn’t care. With the new uniforms and equipment, they felt united.”

LDS Bishop speaking with the Archbishop of Florence

The Archbishop, the director of CARITAS and the second counselor in the stake presidency all spoke at the ceremony. “This is a momentous occasion,” said Elder Herway of the event, “This is the first time that the Catholic church and the Mormon church have collaborated on a project like this in Florence. It’s also the first time that we have personally collaborated with CARITAS at the top level. We have developed strong relationships with all of them in giving these young refugees the resources they need to settle their differences, build self-confidence and integrate into society.”

LDS Counselor in the Stake Presidency talking with the teams at San Lorenzo Chapel 

November has been busy

You have seen this kitchen before, it belongs to INTERSOS.  We took another missionary couple, the Whitings, to meet Valentina, the director of the camp.  The Whitings are the new couple at the Institute.  We hope the YSA of Rome will interact with the refugees at this camp, in a variety of ways with the goal of the refugees integrating with the Italian youth.  This camp houses minors and vulnerable women.  We think great things will happen here.

Hygiene kit assembling activity in the church basement.  Hey!  That's our missionary car in the background.  We often park our car here when we have to get on the metro.  Usually we can't find any parking, but luckily we have the keys to the church garage!

The missionaries and the YM/YW of our Rome 1 ward made this activity happen.  The original shipment was 'lost' for weeks and we were always rescheduling this activity.  The two young men missionaries are the zone leaders and they never complained about having to call and reschedule each time it happened.  They get lots of kudos!

At a break in the activity we took 'the kids' over to the local pizza hut...well, its actually the Pizza Alla Pala.  It's literally across the street from the church.  Pretty decent pizza and really cheap.  Found out that the missionaries eat here all the time.  Well, that makes sense.  I remember this conversation, "which one word or phrase describes you?"  Dad got 'wisdom' and I got 'mom'...fine by me!

Trying to arrange all the coats and supplies into bags to get them into the Tibertina Camp.  At one point Dad was the 'guard' of the supplies in the missionary van.  Three guys said they didn't have time to wait in line and could they have a look.  Dad was too smart for that trick.

Tibertina Camp.  Baobab leaders:  Rosaria and Roberto.  It's Rosaria we work with the most.  She is really the 'nuts and bolts' and the fine details/logistics person.  You have 'met' her before and it won't be the last time I sing her praises, she is one unique lady with a heart of gold.

Here are the supplies we were giving to each guest as the camp:  fleece jacket with a rainproof outer shell and a personal hygiene kit.  We are standing inside of a marquee tent that LDS Charities provided to Baobab so that they have a dry place to serve the food.

It's not what you expect really when you hand out needed clothing.  Either the boys were too shy to say 'thank-you' or they didn't know which language to say it in, or didn't speak the language....or they expected it.  Regardless, there is a bit of a tussle from the boys and the camp volunteers helped to make it orderly and made sure that they didn't take more than one coat. 

Refugee Conference, Athens Greece, Nov 2-4, 2017.  This was the opening dinner.  We have 4 refugee couples in Europe,  2 welfare couples from Frankfurt/ Stays and Canfields,  Gilles our boss in Frankfurt, and also Bruce Muir (retiring as director of Humanitarian Services of the Church) and Ty Johnson (taking Bruce Muirs job)  I need to put the 'outcome' of the Athens conference:  "Business as Usual".  Best outcome imaginable.  Here's the cool story:  Since there are less refugees arriving, should the funds go to places with more need? Ex Harvey, Irma, Myanmar, etc.  The thought was yes.  But the members of the church have been so generous that the coffers are still full!  The Presidency doesn't want the money sitting in the bank, they want the money out helping those in need.  So we continue.  The only change is that our funding will not come from 'emergency relief' but 'sustained relief'.  Chokes me up and humbles me each time I think of it.  There is still a need and those needs will still be addressed thanks to the generosity and kindness of the Latter-Day Saints!

We visited a recently arrived Afghanistan family as part of the conference.

The cute girls from this Afghanistan family were happy to sit next to me and show me photos and I showed them photos.  They spoke no English and I didn't speak their language....photos did the job.  Is there a resemblance of the older girl with Isa at all?  It's the eyes or something.

The next camp we visited was run by Lighthouse Relief which started in Lesbos by 3 Swedes.  The camp provides sewing classes for the ladies.

This was a group photo at the camp.  Willmott at the far left, the refugee couple assigned to Greece, us, the Swendson assigned to Serbia, Gilles, Sis Stay, Scovilles, Elder Stay.  Kneeling two random guys who wanted to be in the photo!

The daycare provider had her hands full, but she knew how to keep them in control.

The girls had a jumprope and eventually all the Senior couples had a turn with her jumprope...Dad included!

In the lobby of our hotel:  The Golden Age.  The couple from the left is the Swendsons and they are serving in Serbia.  The Willmotts serving in Greece (not pictured b/c they were at their own apartment and they did a lot of work to make the conference a success) then Gilles, the Herways, the Scovilles. (both Italian based)

Do you remember ZiZi and her baby and Muhammed her husband?  Well here is their update, they did make it to France.  They had their baby there!  Last we heard they are in Lyon, but probably by now they are in another location.  Just wanted you to know that all turned out well for them.  Hooray!  A small update on Abraham.  He phoned to see if we could introduce him to the missionaries in Ancona.  He is connected with them now and is currently taking the lessons.  He is under strict advice to study and find out for himself what he thinks.... 

The mobile units that replaced tents on the campus of the Red Cross.  Notice the cool signs on each home indicating that LDS Charities helped to fund the mobile homes.  We are pictured with the other donors of the project:  John Cabot University.  There are now 30 units, each can house up to 6 people.  There are also units for the canteen, the toilet/showers, medical, and staff.

Dad talking to Pietro Mariana who has been our point of contact for the mobile home project.  The homes were built by IKEA and assembled (IKEA style!) by the employees of Red Cross.  It's supposed to take 4 hours to assemble but Pietro said it's more like 8 hours (IKEA style again)

We were given a nice little plaque in gratitude from the Red Cross for the donation from LDS Charities.