The Foundation in the time of Coronavirus: a letter from our President

Dearest friends,

In these complicated and delicate days for many of us, I wanted to inform you and update you on the activities, changes and actions of the Valter Baldaccini Foundation in confronting the Coronavirus.

Since yesterday evening, March 9, 2020, stringent regulations have been extended to the whole national territory, this means being even more responsible and adopting behaviors respectful of our health and that of others.

As far as planning is concerned, the activities that we have abroad are moving forward without any changes, that is, long distance adoptions and a pink vegetable garden in Kenya, educational courses in Burkina Faso and a project entirely dedicated to women that will soon leave the House of Leskoc, Kosovo.

Last year, for the first time, a project saw us "landing" in America, in the city of Saginaw, Michigan, where we are accompanying the women of Emmaus House on their journey to autonomy. It is continuing and is being expanded.

In these days our partners outside have written us many messages of solidarity and closeness and I wanted to thank them from my heart for this great and deep sign of affection.

As far as projects in Italy are concerned, we have temporarily suspended the home visits of the With the families project. The counselors are in telephone contact with families and emergencies are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

As for the active research project with the Seraphic of Assisi and the job grants with Caritas Diocesana of Foligno we are in contact with our partners who are putting in place all the necessary measures and adjustments to act in safety.

We have also momentarily stopped a nice project that we hope to resume as soon as possible with the Umbria delegation of the ANT Foundation, of which we hope to be able to tell you all the details soon.

Our volunteers stopped the canteen service at the Caritas Diocesana in Foligno. Fortunately, Caritas continues to cook meals, to guarantee a hot meal for those who don't have it.

Our "behind the scenes" work continues, starting this week mainly in smart working mode. We are rethinking the collective activities that we usually organize during the anniversary period. We are working on the 2019 Budget and the dissemination of our 5x1000, which every year allows us to carry out new projects and support many people in difficulty.

In this period we will try to tell you as much as possible about the projects in depth and the stories of the protagonists through our website, the social networks and the newsletter of the Foundation.

Needless to say, in our daily work we respect and encourage everyone to respect the important communications from the Authorities in limiting travel, respecting the safety distance between people, avoiding gatherings, frequently washing our hands and using disposable handkerchiefs.

This complex situation is changing constantly and forces us to rethink our sense of community, of being with the family and having even more care and respect for relationships. It will certainly pass. We also trying to grasp new opportunities and new energies from what is happening.

Best wishes,
Beatrice Baldaccini