Projects in Kenya, Burkina and Kosovo: an update

Two weeks have passed since our President's letter. This is a photograph that Sister Federica sent us from Kenya and with her smile, which we can see under the mask, we would like to update you on the status of the Valter Baldaccini Foundation's foreign projects.

Coronavirus has also arrived in Africa. The first to tell us was Sister Federica with her photo. Sister Federica is a doctor and working with her for the last couple of years in Kenya, we have been building Mutanu: the pink garden, a project dedicated to job placement that is allowing twenty women to regain autonomy and dignity. The women had just started attending a training course in agriculture which was immediately suspended, but they are continuing to work in the garden, which is life for them. Sister Federica has explained the hygiene and safety standards to them that we have all learned about in the past few weeks. Even if the water to wash your hands is not easy to access.

Joab and Sister Philomene, respectively from Kenya and Burkina Faso, where school and educational projects with remote adoption are active, informed us that all schools are closed and that the children must remain at home. Some of them don’t have a home and for many, going to school means having at least one guaranteed meal a day.

The situation in Africa is worrying, not only because the health system is fragile and the structures, materials and staff are lacking, but also because closing the markets to avoid gatherings and not letting the children go to school means people will starve. What could happen in Africa is not only a health crisis, but also an economic and humanitarian crisis.

Focusing on Europe, in Kosovo presently there are few cases, but one of these was identified at the Leskoc House, where last year we carried out the socio-educational project that allowed us to expand a stable and thus create new job opportunities. In the past few days a new training and work project was started, entirely dedicated to women. All the inhabitants of the House were swabbed and fortunately they all tested negative for Covid 19.

The situation, as you can understand, is extremely changeable and complex. But we are there. We are close to Sister Federica and the women of Mutanu. We are close to Joab, to Sister Philomene and all the children and boys we support with long distance adoptions. We are also there for Massimo, Cristina, Francesca, Rinaldo and all the inhabitants of the Lesckoc House.

We affectionately embrace all of you!
Come on, let's stay united and not lose hope and trust.
Everything will be fine!