“A drop of hope”

Interview – young person

“The suburb I live in is called Librino. It is an upside down world, without any rules. We have been abandoned by everyone; everyone does what they like: selling drugs, theft, taking drugs, prostitution, abusing people, extortion.”

“The Oratory is a point of reference for us; the Sisters make us and our families welcome. In the Oratory we learn about Jesus and develop our skills”.

Narrator
The plan to make Librino a great suburb came into existence in the 70’s.
The area, planned by Kenzo Tange grew up around a small agricultural town surrounded by massive great buildings characteristic of the rural architecture of the area. The plan for Librino was an ambitious one; the suburb, subdivided into large rings by a system of wide streets and leafy traffic islands, was meant to be able to cater for more than 60,000 inhabitants with social, scholastic, religious, administrative structures in place to make it completely independent of the city. This is why Librino got called a satellite city.

But Librino was to see a very different kind of future. The original plan was ignored in a number of its features to the point where it became something completely different. Some variations were initially required, since the height of some of its towers didn’t fit in with the nearby airport of Fontanarossa.

But following this, variations to the plan led to a hugely abusive kind of construction and mismanagement by local councils who did not always show interest in developing the suburb. It is still under construction today and, in fact, is a story of unfinished urban planning and, from many points of view, failed urban planning.

The absence of much of the essential infrastructure, the degraded urban environment, the lack of meeting spots and places where people can gather, lack of services essential for the suburb to be of benefit to its inhabitants, make it simply a huge melting pot of people who belong to the weaker elements of the city.

The suburb is largely inhabited by young families making it a kind of “parking zone” while people await better times and opportunities. In such a particularly degarded context like this, minors and youths, especially, find it difficult to discover the essential points of reference to guarantee a cultural formation and values, and healthy socialisation.

Even if a bit out of proportion, the surrounding are has three production centres: Everyone has to catch public transport to get to the workplace, so that in reality the suburb is mainly given over to residential rather than work areas, making it what is called a “dormitory suburb”. And even more so because it is a recently populated area, its inhabitants do not see it as their place of origin. The result is a lack of identity and tradition.

And it was in just such a large, problematic area like this that, in 2005, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians set up the “John Paul II” Community. The three Sisters set out on paths to new evangelisation, to proclaim salvation and bring the Salesian charism, according to the spirit of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. They lead a simple, essential, and modest lifestyle marked by the centrality of Christ and Trinitarian love.

Sensitivity to the sufferings of people who live in miserable circumstances, despite technological and scientific progress, requires that the community live like Mary at Cana.
·1 coordinating their service transparently and within the law for a wholistic and charitable development of human existence.
·2 without fear of going to the poor, denouncing social injustice, risking personal involvement.
·3 going from house to house, despite the dangers, to bring comfort, joy, love, courage…Jesus
·4 giving joy to those who no longer believe in hope
·5 witnessing to and offering an experience of the merciful and forestalling love of the Father, through
- explicit proclamation of Jesus
- local leadership,
- street education,
- Catechesis in the parishes,
- Oratory youth centre,
- Evangelisation for youths in the Juvenile Correctional Institute
- Carrying out projects

The FMA, in harmony with the journey of the Church, belonging fully to the area, share the people’s difficulties and joys, struggles and hopes, work and prayer.
They foster networks of solidarity between educating communities, the Salesian Family, the local Church, the local Town Council, foundations, educational agencies in the area, ONLUS type volunteer associations, social cooperatives, Caritas, local and diocesan.

The Sisters’ Educating Community in Librino, even if made up of different bodies conducts three Centres for gathering young people, two run by the FMA and one by Caritas (diocese).
It is a unique experience which fills its members with strength and hope. The Educating Community, also made up of members from the State School, social cooperatives, various volunteer, parochial groups, offers courses of an educational nature as a complete ministry to young people, and their families.
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in cooperation with the Educating Community carries out different projects for minors, families, young women.

Interviews

“My name is Veronica and I am a volunteer with Civil Service. Problems faced by youngsters in Librino are:
- selling drugs
- delinquency
- prostitution
- getting ‘in the family way’ before being ready for it.

The John Paul II Oratory is a point of reference for Librino’s inhabitants, where youngsters can study, learn to socialise, develop their potential and relate especially with adults in a positive manner.

Some youngsters respond positively to the educational curriculum that we, as an educating community offer. We work this out from their regular attendance at school, and they often come to the Oratory too, getting involved in school and out-of-school activites we offer, like: guitar, football, volleyball and so many others. They begin to take on positive attitudes towards themselves, the environment and people around them”.

Although I lived in this suburb with all its limitations I had never been aware of the difficulties and problems one could face in a place like Librino. Obviously taking on this kind of mission imposes an obligation to look inwards more closely, and one comes up with a number of reactions: anger at the couldn’t-care-less attitude of institutions and those who could act but don’t. One feels a sense of impotence at the social injustice; then there’s a mixture of feelings: tenderness, affection and joy in being with these people who have to face so many problems and social inconveniences each day.

For me the Oratory is a point of reference where I can spend the afternoon with friends; There’s so much to learn there:
love for one another, respect for one’s neighbour. If where I lived didn’t have the Oratory I would be playing on the street or taking up many of the things offered there.

I would like to leave my friends a message:
“Don’t get involved with adults tied up in selling drugs, stealing, sniffing or trying stuff that’s bad for you. My suggestion is come to the Oratory and grow in body and mind”.

The multipurpose office, CIOFS, networking with the John Paul II Oratory has been going for some years at the social centre here in Librino. Right at the moment we have the Arianna Project for women. Women looking for work who, using a computer, seek work with greater awareness of the tools available. There is also a period of guidance to help the women who most want to learn to use these resources and improve their skills.

Since I met the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians I have found a welcoming place where children and young people, we women can meet. Each day we meet we talk about current problems, and discover our hidden talents. We meet up with other people. In the afternoon some of us help out with the volunteers and help children do their homework.

Do you know what it’s like living in a cement ‘palace’?
It’s not very nice. The place is full of mice, dirty water, there are sick kids, blind people, some with Downs syndrome, there are people who don’t even have what they need. We are afraid to go out because we are afraid someone might kill us, harm the children.

According to the style of the Preventive System the Educating Community takes the part of the poor and those excluded from social opportunities, by considering these same people to be a great resource to discover and enable. In this kind of educative activity an important role is played by VIDES volunteers who carry out their mission with courage and gratitude.

The problems of an outer suburb as complex as Librino are so many and even if the Town Council and voluntary associations do something it is just a drop in the ocean. But we believe that many drops together make up an ocean. Being missionaries here in Librino is:
-1 Getting involved in the difficult adventure of survival and the many challenges threatening the weakest elements in society
-2 Seeking solutions and networking with different agencies.
-3 Infusing hope where there is none,
-4 Looking on high with feet firmly on the ground and one’s heart in one’s hand.

This is our drop. And if you would also like to contribute your own drop: by living each day within the law and modestly and contributing something. I
If I,
if you,
if we contribute our drop the puddle becomes an ocean.

Ente Giuridico College
Maria Ausiliatrice
Via Caronda, 224
Bancaintesa
C/C 6152823359/82
ABI 03069
CAB 16923
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