Project Title
A Look at Africa

Location
Tuscany & Eritrea

Proposer
Eliminate the Distance

Duration
September 2006 – September 2007 (one year)

Project Members
1,000 Tuscan students, 40 teachers, 10 scholastic organizations

Plan of Action
The project is born from the knowledge of the scarcity of information for children regarding the political situation of the continent of Africa, though especially in Eritrea.  The project aims to foster discussions in at least ten schools (middle school or high school level) in every province of the Tuscan region.  During these forums, which should each last apx. 3hrs., volunteers from our organization and from other partner organizations will recount their African-Eritrean reality, also highlighting throughout the discourse the various project, activities, and events in both Italy and Africa (such as this one) that have helped to stimulate a better understanding of the circumstances and to encourage active participation in supportive organizations.

Involved students will be given a grant to help them produce specific projects (e.g., journal articles, paintings, etc.) which will be the fruits of their intellectual and emotive responses to the theme “Africa and Solidarity.”  These works will then be shown at the Puccini Theatre, at which time the four most inspiring works will be selected.  The creators of these four projects will then be offered the opportunity to accompany our volunteers on a trip to Eritrea, thus getting to experience first-handedly the reality of their projects and also having the opportunity to help us with our projects (Project School, Project Health, Distance Adoption, and Project Family House).

Upon returning to Italy, these students will visit numerous schools so as to recount their experiences, inform other young minds of the Eritrean reality, and emphasize the effects and power of mass-media.
The works that were not among the top four selected will be shown in supporting schools and organizations to further the “Africa and Solidarity” initiative; editions of our monthly journal will also be distributed, in addition to a synthesized explanation of the student works presented and a report of the students’ experiences during their trip to Eritrea.

Project Coordinator
Matteo Pretelli  +39 338.924.1627
info@annulliamoladistanza.com

Cost
€ 31.600,00 (€ 25.000,00 financed by Cesvot in 2005; € 6.600,00 Annulliamo la Distanza Onlus)