September 12, 2002
For our last blog entry, we mainly wrote about our trip to
the Rome Temple, with our dear Nigerian friends. This time, we will mainly write about our
work with 8 organizations the last two weeks, in an effort to help refugees and
migrants.
About a week ago, 350 young single adults gathered in Rome for a conference, and did a service project to assemble hygiene kits for refugees from Ukraine. We spent a lot of time purchasing the items, and having them shipped to Rome for the young adults to assemble them into kits. After they were assembled, the Church donated these 2,300 kits to 2 wonderful organizations that help refugees from Ukraine at the borders. 685 kits were designed for Ukrainian refugee children, and 465 were designed for Ukrainian women, to be distributed by Terre des Hommes in NE Italy, where Italy borders Austria and Slovenia. About 300 "general" kits were given to Baobab Experience, at the Italy/French border at Ventimiglia. Another 845 general kits were given to Baobab to be distributed in southern Italy. What a great effort, and a wonderful contribution to the Ukrainians entering and exiting Italy.
Last week we worked with 6 other organizations to assist
refugees and the poor. Two were in
Milan, who assist with temporary housing for refugees. One was for refugee children under age 18,
generally for those ages 16-18. Both
organizations have wonderful services to assist with a wide range of needs,
including training them with job skills, and helping them get a job.
Three organizations were in Torino (often referred to as
“Turin”). One helps with food for
disabled persons, who do not qualify for help from any other organization,
including from the government. Another organization is “Colori Vivi,” a marvelous organization that helps train refugees with
sewing skills. Some clothing
manufacturers, such as Gucci, often donate fabric and material to Colori
Vivi, to be made into dresses, nice coats, bags, and other items. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints has donated sewing machines, professional ironing boards, and other
necessary items for Colori Vivi to train refugees, and to assist the persons to
sew and prepare items. Both women and
men acquire the skills to make very nice clothing. It is a wonderful program. The project with the last organization,
Diaconia Valdese, was to help create a Children’s Corner for Ukrainian children. This is for use while their mothers are
receiving instruction in Italian language, or are attending workshops or
activities. Diaconia Valdese, with funds
from the Church, purchased educational toys, books, and other items to help the
young Ukrainian children.
The last organization was about an hour west of Torino, in a
town called Pinerolo. Our project with
them was to help with “Refugee Bike Repair.”
Refugees are taught how to do bike repairs, and/or to construct new
bikes from parts. The Church helped
purchase some bike parts and tools for this job training project. We like projects that help provide job training, internships, and assistance in getting a job for refugees,
since that provides them with sustainable skills, and helps them and their
families long term. Currently, we have
job training and internship projects in Welding and Construction in Vicenza,
Catering in Milan, Sewing in Torino, and Bike Repair in Pinerolo.
Of course, the other projects to help with temporary housing, food, shoes, sleeping bags, hygiene kits, and booklets for language instruction are also important as well. One overriding observation from working with all of these organizations, is how dedicated they are to helping refugees and migrants, the poor, and vulnerable populations. They have so many wonderful persons who unselfishly help people in a wide variety of important ways. It is great to work together with them.
Parenthetically, two weeks ago we were informed that the
Church is dropping or moving away from the term “Latter Day Saint Charities,”
and asking us to instead just use the term, “The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints,” when we communicate with organizations, whether in person
or in emails. Thus, we changed our
business cards last week, and our “signature” at the bottom of emails, to
reflect that change. We think this is
good.
This week we will be in the very northern most areas of Italy, next to the Austrian border, which has the Dolomite mountains and Italian Alps. We send you our love and best wishes.
It is very gratifying to see how the refugees are trained to do jobs rather than just given hand-outs. It sounds like all the organizations your work with are on top of truly helping these children of our Father in Heaven learn to be self-sufficient. Blessings upon your heads! You are doing a great work.
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