Content Section

Francesca Rava Foundation - NPH Italy Onlus opens the new kindergarten in Norcia

Norcia, May 9, 2017 - Following the opening of the elementary school in Norcia, on 31 March,the FrancescaRava Foundation-NPH Italia Onlus has continued its work with the Norciacommunity with the inauguration today of a new kindergarten for 125 children, thatwill be followed by the opening of the middle school on 23 May.

Thus by the end of May, onlyfour months after the project began, Norcia will benefit from the new schoolcomplex located outside the "red zone", which will fully meet the educationaland training needs of the entire local school population.

The opening was attended byMayor of Norcia Nicola Alemanno, President of Umbria Region Catiuscia Marini,the school's head teacher Rossella Tonti, architect Laura Galimberti,Coordinator of the Council of Ministers' Mission for the Redevelopment ofSchool Building, and its head of the office, Filippo Bonaccorsi. There was also the Italian former top modelMartina Colombari, an endorser of the Francesca Rava Foundation-NPH Italia Onlus,who also volunteers on the front line in Haiti and in many initiatives to helpchildren in Italy.

"We took a great engagement with the community of Norcia. Thanks to thehelp of donors, partners and institutions, we now give children an happy placeto play. But our work does not stop here: we are completing the adjacent middleschool and we are also very committed to build a new school also in Cascia. Wehave shared the generosity of many, listening and responding to the needs ofthose affected by this disaster, "said Maria Chiara Roti, VicePresident of the Francesca RavaFoundation - NPH Italia Onlus.

Kindergartenchildren will be divided into four classes and a nursery section, within acovered area of 562.63 m². Three of the classes are dedicated to themain project donors, the Costa Crociere Foundation,Gucci, and KPMG. Children were the real stars of the openingparty, with the help of Costa Cruises entertainers. Representatives of several friendly companies were also attending,including Amgen, Mapei and Danone Group, as well as many volunteers and donorsfrom all over Italy who have supported the Foundation in achieving thisimportant goal.

"It is an honour and a privilege to be able to give practical help,through our foundation, to reconstruction in the areas affected by theearthquake, starting with the children, who represent the future of theseareas. Our donation originated from the big heart and solidarity of our guests,who I would like to thank. We have organised a three-month fundraising on ourships, targeting everyone who came on holidays on one of our cruises, to whichwe have added a direct contribution by Costa Cruises," said Massimo Brancaleoni, SVP Worldwide Sales of Costa Cruises.

We are very grateful to the Francesca RavaFoundation and to the donors who have responded to its appeal. We hope thatothers will join in with this commitment that will return to children the mostimportant place to help them get back to normality in everyday life: to be ableto go to school, where they will build their future," added Mayor of Norcia, Nicola Alemanno.

THE WORKOF THE FRANCESCA RAVA FOUNDATION IN THE AREAS HIT BY THE EARTHQUAKE

Since the first shocks in August 2016, the FrancescaRava Foundation has worked closely with the government, the Ministry of Education,Universities and Research (MIUR) and Civil Protection, to help reconstruct theschools, flagged up as the most urgent area of action after the earthquake. TheFrancesca Rava Foundation has undertaken to rebuild six schools; one alreadydelivered in Arquata del Tronto on 3 November 2016; three in Norcia and two inCascia. The Foundation commissions the construction of the schools and then donatesto the local councils, with which it has previously entered into a specialagreement. The supplier is selected based on cost, reliability and experiencealready matured in rapid emergency response. Planning is the responsibility of CivilProtection and in Norcia, the Forestry Agency. The Ministry of Education paysfor the furnishings.

TWONEW SCHOOLS ALSO IN CASCIA The Francesca Rava Foundation NPH Italia is alsobuilding two schools in Cascia: one primary school for 100 students and amiddle school for 60 students that will be completed by May.

EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS

Over these months of emergency and major reconstructionwork, the Francesca Rava Foundation-NPH Italia Onlus has listened to the needsof children and families, thus developing a real friendship with the area, whichhas already resulted in numerous interesting events and practical help, inclose synergy with local authorities.

These includeCREATIVE WORKSHOPS for Norcia elementary school children, PSYCHOLOGICAL-EMOTIONALWORKSHOPS with the children of Arquata del Tronto school, an EDUCATIONAL TRIPTO MILAN for Norcia's middle and early secondary school students, who will bestaying in Milan from 2 to 6 May 2017 as guests of the Francesca RavaFoundation - NPH Italia Onlus. The Foundation is also involved in a healthproject in Arquata del Tronto, where a gynaecologic outpatient clinic will beheld at the local medical clinic and a scholarship awarded for a young gynaecologist.

Continue helping us! We need you togive us a "brick" for the Cascia middle school

You can make yourcontribution through:

Postal order on A/C 17775230

Bank transfer to BANCAMEDIOLANUM IT 39 G 03062 34210 000000760000

With credit card on www.nph-italia.org with reason: Cascia School

FRANCESCA RAVA FOUNDATION - NPHITALIA ONLUS

The Francesca RavaFoundation-NPH Italia Onlus was founded in 2000, the fruit of the testimony of love that Francescaleft with her short but intense life. It helps children in difficulty in Italyand around the world.

Itis the Italian representative of NPH, Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (Our LittleBrothers), which since 1954 has served orphaned children, abandoned indesperate need with homes and hospitals in nine Latin American countries, includingimpoverished Haiti.

TheFoundation is always in the front line in emergencies affecting children,including in Italy. We are present with volunteers to offer first aid tomigrant children and pregnant women on Italian naval vessels in the SicilianCanal. We also fight against the abandonment of babies with the "ninnaho" project and we help to children health poverty with "In farmacia per ibambini" ('At the pharmacy for children'). We are rebuilding six schools forchildren of Central Italy affected by the earthquake.

Press office

Francesca RavaFoundation-NPH Italia Onlus - Tel +39 02 54122917

Silvia Valigi +39 3475315036, silvia.valigi@nphitalia.org

Guendalina Dainelli, +39 3474017867 news@nph-italia.org

Laura Battaglia, laura.battaglia@nph-italia.org

Kaleidoscope powered