We arrived in Lecce after the stops in Greece, the second country of our long journey to the North Cape.
In Italy we will meet many friends, volunteers and supporters who have been by our side for years and who immediately took action for this initiative in support of the girls welcomed in the Family Home.
Marinella, Michele, Cetta, Daiana and Gaetano, Maria Chiara, Jacopo, Sara, Federica and many others who have already organized, or will do so in the next stages, meetings and small events to involve and raise awareness of more and more people in our protection project of the rights of children and adolescents.
«As soon as I arrived in Italy I was greeted by the beauty and warmth of Lecce. City where I met some of our supporters who on this occasion decided to remotely adopt three of the girls welcomed in the Family Home. It was a great way to start the solidarity ride in what is the second country I will cross on my bicycle. Why am I doing all this? Precisely to cultivate existing relationships and because I hope to create new ones. In recent years we have been forced to distance ourselves, we have had to give up moments of sharing and conviviality. I could not tell the fatigue of these two long years of lockdown in the Family Home, the difficulties of the girls and the girls, the new arrivals and the goodbyes. Making known what we do in Isla day after day is one of my goals in this campaign».
«Many people do not know the reality in which we find ourselves operating. They think that the Philippines is a place of tourism and carefree, where people live day to day and with a smile always on their faces. In part this is true, but not all cities are tourist sites and social and economic inequalities are very evident between the various islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. The girls and boys we welcome do not have anyone who can take care of them or in many cases they have been removed from their families after very heavy traumas. Extreme poverty leads to lifestyles that are unimaginable for us and very hardships».
Radio Cusano Campus interviews Francesco!
Following the live story of the solidarity ride Go Isla Go! The goals and dreams associated with this solidarity and fundraising initiative for the girls of Isla ng Bata – Children’s Island.
Here is also the interview with Francesco on tag24.it, Unicusano’s online newspaper.