Amici per il Centrafrica Onlus is a lay association established in 2001 to express a responsible and supportive participation towards those living in poverty.
The commitment of the non-profit organization takes place alongside the efforts made by the missionaries in favor of the people of the Central African Republic, above all, and of the most disadvantaged countries of sub-Saharan Africa by offering them education, care, work support and training to accompany them towards complete self-sufficiency .
The Association, composed of volunteers who participate for free in activities in Italy and Africa, is supported by the solidarity of friends and companies, by the liberal donations of foundations and banks, by the contributions of public bodies and schools, which share the spirit and the concreteness of the interventions.
MISSION
They believe that improving the living conditions of the entire world population is everyone's responsibility. The growth and abatement of a people's development limits must go through a path of awareness towards existing opportunities.
Health emergencies, widespread poverty due to political, social and structural instability, and the lack of attention to the defense of minorities do not allow the population of Central African countries to build solid foundations on which to plan a future. They therefore intend to express a responsible and supportive participation in the needs, discomfort and hopes of those living in poverty. Education and school education and the right to health, along with development programs for autonomous productive activities, are the interventions that they believe can help these populations to become aware and proceed towards a better life condition than the present. Their commitment in the countries of Central Africa is embodied in the institutionalization of educational facilities that allow the literacy and education of many children, in the creation and support of health facilities that promote the improvement of health status, in launching projects economic for agricultural and manufacturing development.
Through an intense awareness-raising activity towards the disadvantaged conditions of the populations of Central Africa, we set ourselves the high goal of implementing in the Central African countries instruments able to create conditions of self-sufficiency, social and economic progress over time. in launching economic projects for agricultural and manufacturing development. Through an intense awareness-raising activity towards the disadvantaged conditions of the populations of Central Africa, they set ourselves the high goal of implementing in the Central African countries instruments able to create conditions of self-sufficiency, social and economic progress over time. in launching economic projects for agricultural and manufacturing development. Through an intense awareness-raising activity towards the disadvantaged conditions of the populations of Central Africa, we set ourselves the high goal of implementing in the Central African countries instruments able to create conditions of self-sufficiency, social and economic progress over time.
HISTORY
The Amici per il Centrafrica Association was established as a non-profit organization in November 2001, but its history began in the summer of 2000 in the forest of the Central African Republic (RCA) when Carla Pagani, nephew and guest of Sister Beniamina Pagani, visited the mission of Zomea where the sisters commit all their resources in helping the Pygmies.
That played by Sister Beniamina Pagani in the story of Amici per il Centrafrica is a far from marginal role. Originally from Limido Comasco, where she was born in 1933, at the age of 19 Beniamina decided to enter the congregation of the Comboni missionaries. In 1962, a few years after his first religious profession, which took place in 1956, Beniamina left for the Congo: there he lived a mission experience that ended with the Simba rebellion, and faced a period of imprisonment along with four sisters. Specializing in Belgium as a midwife, after returning home she was sent to the RCA to look after the Sudanese refugees, becoming one of the pioneers in this sense.
In 1969 he arrived in Central Africa, in Mboki, to take care of the hospital built for Sudanese refugees by the International Red Cross. Subsequently, Sister Beniamina became the head of the Congregation for Central Africa and Chad and opened several missions to bring help in education, health and human rights. Since 1999, Sister Beniamina has been involved in the opening of a new mission of Zomea, in favor of the Aka Pygmies living in the south-western forest of the country, on the border with the Congo. It is there that Carla goes in August 2000, realizing the difficult situation and the strong commitment of the Comboni Sisters who however have few resources. It is impossible for her to see so much suffering and indigence and stop at emotion, accept and move on, delegating to those who would have the duty to do.
Once back in Italy, work has always resumed, but the commitment does not stop. Friends arrive, words convince, images leave their mark even in those places that never visited them. Thus began a collaboration of many who collect materials and resources, while others provide professionalism and knowledge. In Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino there are spontaneously formed work groups that, in a short time, are able to send containers, equipment and other volunteers. The Amici per il Centrafrica association is born.
Without Sister Beniamina, none of this would have been possible: although she has been gone since 2005, she continues to live what she was born and raised with Sister Benianima, thanks to the service performed with great dedication and enthusiasm and her great love for the people and the Central African culture.
