Harambee: Trust in mankind

Harambee Africa International. Rome, October 27th

Linda Corbi, Giovanni Mottini and Rosella Villa

“Trust in mankind, and love and be close to people of every condition. From these points of reference, the fruit of the teachings of St Josemaria, was born the Harambee Programme for Africa.” This is the way Giovanni Mottini, the president of the new charitable not-for-profit foundation, defined the profile of Harambee Africa International, presented on the 27th of October 2008, in Rome.

“In the year 2002, due to the canonization of St Josemaria, we asked ourselves what we could do as Christians to leave a sign of his teachings. And we began to get involved in Africa, avoiding an aesthetic look,” Mottini said, “that is to say looking at the continent only from the point of view of its natural riches, or else avoiding its beautiful side altogether and showing only indignation towards its dramas and staying well away from its problems. Instead, Harambee Africa International looks to give concrete solidarity, never from a distance – the solidarity of St Josemaria Escriva.

We began to get involved in Africa,” Mottini continued, “asking ourselves not so much what the Africans needed, but what they were thinking of, because we are convinced, along with Pope Benedict XVI, that the poverty is not only material but above all a poverty of hope.” This is the reason why Harambee Africa International has promoted and sustained programmes in Africa. “We concentrate on education, on improving its quality, because in this way we can cultivate the intelligence and the capacity of every one to improve their own destiny. The solidarity of Harambee by definition is less spectacular but very efficacious.”

After the speech of Giovanni Mottini, the international coordinator of the new association, Linda Corbi, showed the results obtained by the projects launched by Harambee, focusing especially on the experience of Kenya. “We have finished some days of study and work in Nairobi, where we were able to experience the potential for positive change that there is behind the programmes that we have financed to help the teachers in the schools, who are at times the only points of reference for the new generations.”

Harambee Africa International also means to promote a less stereotypical type of solidarity. For this reason there is a series of initiatives promoted by the Italian committee and coordinated by Rosella Villa. “Every month we have an issues forum in which experts on Africa will speak, guided tours of museums, projects, little events and more important ones with the common aim of raising the funds to carry forward this year’s projects. In this way it will be possible for everybody to help Africa in a concrete way.”