Father Mario Zecca of the Comboni Missionaries, lives at Angal since ‘93 and he’s currently the mission pastor. He is also a dear “friend” of our Association and has participated several times to the general meetings (Angal day). He is in the Board of Governors of the Hospital and he’s always taken part to the decisions concerning the management of St.Luke’s H.

He was the promoter of the project “AIDS orphans”, and he is currently in charge of it. Last March he returned to Italy for a period of three months of vacation and now he is preparing to leave for Angal. In a letter addressed to all who were close to him in this period he wants to thank them all.

Dear friends,
It ’s time to get on the flight. Africa awaits, the Lord calls me!

It’s been a great joy to spend time with you. Blessed be the Lord!
I remember the beautiful moments of prayer together in the holy days of Easter, the wonderful celebration of patron saint, the shrine, where the streets have surrounded the Lady of light, prayer and acts of love. Things will never forget!

We tried to contemplate the beauty of our Christian faith to get us free from a faith perhaps a little drive by habit, sometimes cold and joyless … I enjoyed your friendship and generosity in your homes and streets. We enlighten each other by listeinng two very clear words of Jesus as he died and rose again: “Come, blessed by the Father in the kingdom prepared for you! – Stay away from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for you!”. We should remember both of these aspects to be able to earn the first and avoid the other … What a disaster if we don’t!!!

Bless you and thank you wholeheartedly for all the help received from your generosity.
Personally I am always very shy to accept bids from you beceuse I know how difficult life is. Should I tell you that I do not need them? I’d lie if I did, because all the missions, and also of mine at Angal, are so full with orphans, children and young people unable to pay school fees, clinic and hospital which are under-funded to treat many AIDS patients, TB, malaria, malnutrition etc.

For this reasons you are so blessed by God when you share and react to the – certainly not at all Christian – excesses and waste at parties, baptisms, first communions, confirmations, weddings, gifts etc.. I myself felt so embarrassed. I believe the Lord does not want this. Jesus once said: “Man do not live just by bread…” It seems however that in such cases the so-called “bread” is excessively and unreasonably too much…

Beyond a reasonable reaction to my observation, which is not aimed to blame anyone, it would be a courageous Christian reversal to avoid the risk of using too much bread for us and leave the stones for those who really need bread … God expects it.
It ’s a challenge.

I will continue to pray for you, thinking of you all, especially young people who are aften very disoriented by such little faith in us adults …

Thank you very much! Rwoth omeri = The Lord loves you !
P. Mario Zecca

“5 per thousand” is a form of financing provided by the Tax Act through which voluntary organizations in Italy receive a part of tax income decided voluntarily by a choice expressed by taxpayers. In absense of such a decision by the citizen, the contribution is managed by the state. This source of financing is a real breath of fresh air for many organisations, and especially for ours. In recent years many of our supporters have expressed this choice in our favour, giving us the chance to finance many new projects.

In case you are a taxpayer in Italy and you want to express this choice, our CODICE FISCALE (tax code) for the Amici di Angal Association is:

Through your tax Form #730, on the “Modello Unico 2010″ or CUD form, simply sign in the space reserved for non-profit organisations (top left) and enter the tax code of the Friends of Angal: 93143850233

Wahre to sign

• CUD form payers

there is an appropriate space designed for the 8-per-thousand and the 5-per-thousand.

Aside the text “Sostegno delle organizzazioni non lucrative di utilità sociale, delle associazioni di promozione sociale, delle associazioni riconosciute che operano nei settori di cui all’art. 10, c. 1, lett a), del D.Lgs. n. 460 del 1997 e delle fondazioni nazionali di carattere culturale” you can sign and put the Amici di Angal tax code: 93143850233.

• For those who pay through form #730 or “Modello Unico”

Aside the text “Sostegno delle organizzazioni non lucrative di utilità sociale, delle associazioni di promozione sociale, delle associazioni riconosciute che operano nei settori di cui all’art. 10, c. 1, lett a), del D.Lgs. n. 460 del 1997 e delle fondazioni nazionali di carattere culturale” you can sign and put the Amici di Angal tax code: 93143850233.

For those who want to give a hand

To spread as much as possible this champaign we have prepared a set of banners to be put on your websites and blogs, as the examples below. If you can’t find one of a size suitable for you please write to info@amicidiangal.org. We’ll get you one specifically for you!

	<a href="http://www.amicidiangal.org/5-per-mille/"><br /> <img src="http://www.amicidiangal.org/images/5-per-mille_2009.gif"/><br /> </a>
	<a href="http://www.amicidiangal.org/5-per-mille/"><br /> <img src="http://www.amicidiangal.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/5-per-mille-volontariato-20.jpg"/><br /> </a>

Or you may want to put this footer in your mail:

----------------------------------------------------------------
Io dono il mio 5 per mille agli Amici di Angal per aiutarli nei loro progetti in Uganda. Codice Fiscale: 93143850233. www.amicidiangal.org

Last year 800 people have given us their choice, allowing us to receive funding of more than € 40,000. This figure is an important part of our annual budget and with your help we hope to make it even more consistent.

Grazie!

Our dear friend Fabiano Avancini , a photographer, is the founder of “ Close the Circle “, an initiative to raise awareness and promote attention to the other half of the world, the one that need help to live. A hand to close the circle, and that may, should be ours.

Alongside Alessandro Tosatto and Silvia Morara he has organized a photographic exhibition whose inauguration is set Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 18.00 at LAMeC Palladian Basilica – Vicenza .

The exhibition will run until Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at 19.00 and for the entire month you can admire the photographs of the three authors. During a silent auction during the opening day, from 18.00 to 20.00 on 30.01.2010 you can buy them.

The proceeds from the sale of prints will go to Mani Tese, Doctors with Africa Cuamm, VIS and our association Amici di Angal ONLUS.

The themes of the works will be:

• Vidomegon: child slavery in Benin, © Alessandro Tosatto
• African Toys, © Silvia Morara
• Alphabet, © Fabiano Avancini

We invite all our supporters, friends, partners, and all those who love photography author, opening Saturday, January 30th, but also to visit the exhibition during the opening period.

Click here to preview the wonderful photo book and see a sample of the prints on display.

Find below some of the photos on show.

troupe TEATRO VECCHIO VENETO in:

Saturday, January 30, 2010 – 21.00
CAMPODARSEGO (PD)-AUDITORIUM ALTAFORUM

a charity evening in support of the Friends of Angal.

Cast:
IMELDA: Monica Bruschetta
BETTY: Ilaria Bordin
TITA: Donato Pomaro
REGINA: Nadia Pomaro
TANO: Silvio Olin
GIASSINTO: Angelo Naso
TONINO: Enrico Malatesta
DOMITILLA: Paola Manfrin
GERMANO: Andrea Gianesin
Giustina Cristina Morello

SCENE: Roberto Bellami, Angelo Naso
LIGHTS: Valentino until Paul Vanzetto
STAFF: Laura Martini, Nadia Simonato, Antonella Bruschetta

Here the poster of the show

Info: City of Campodarsego Culture Office – Via Roma, 9 Tel 049 9299902
Tickets: Tobacco Andriolo Anthonys Way, 165 Campodarsego

On 11 June 2009 our 33rd mission to Angal came to an end. As often happens many volunteers have assisted us in the everyday work. We started April 20 together with Tiziana, mother of Dr. Arianna Bortolani sent by Cuamm, which for 7 months supported the pediatric ward, where the number of children consistently exceeds 100.

For 3 weeks we had as a guest Matteo De Mayda, from  “Informatici senza Frontiere”, who gave an impulse to the project named “OpenHospital” which assists the introduction od computers in certain areas of the hospital, and collected some photographic material, together with data and interviews, which will document the activities of the Friends of Angal in a specific publication.

Then it was the turn of the dentist Francesco Pelligra, who came to check the progress of  SMOM project.

After he left it was  the turn of the Sarti (see News n.2°) who came to spend a holiday at work, with their children. With great generosity they devoted to Angal their first holiday after their return to Italy at the end of their previous effort lasted a year, a sign of interest and careness to the hospital which is really important for local people and for the hospital staff.

Since May 21 was also with us dr. Cardellino, at his sixth mission. Officially presented as deputy of Mario, after endless discussions with the staff, with Dr. Ronald, Medical Superintendent, and with Mr. Simon, the director, has helped to lay the foundations for future cooperation between the Association and the Hospital with very strict rules to ensure transparency.

From an organizational point of view this period was very hard due to some problems of coordination with the local administration. The endless work of mediation with the parties primarily led by Dr. Cardellino, now vice-representative of Friends of Angal towards the Hospital, has resulted in a new  agreement (to be published on this site) between the Association and the Hospital, countersigned by the parties, and officially operational starting on July , which will be valid for one year renewable. By means of this agreement, on which we have set some clear rules with quarterly monitoring, we will ensure, with a financial commitment of more than 130,000 euros per year by the Association, the proper implementation of those projects that the association has been carrying on since years, by establishing some more rigorous and formal responsibilities of the various actors involved.

More to be published on this issue soon.

Nurse and patient

the Nutrition Unit

This is more then the lack of health in Uganda, which makes us have regularly the grant to pay part of salaries to staff and, most seriously, the supply of blood for transfusions.
Leave the rest.

He was very warm, people talked of nothing but the tapioca that was drying in the fields. There was a heavy cloak, an unnerving sense of expectation, a wind that lifted whiffs of red dust that was deposited everywhere. Then, the rain finally . Two days ago.

Now we can breathe. The crop is still behind schedule and people begin to starve. The bench under the tree in front of our house is always crowded with mothers with children around his neck, which arrive from afar, from the villages where land is more arid. My days go well, including listening to those who come to seek help, (and because I speak their language will make long speeches) and reported in units of nutrition, which I found the store nearly empty.

Grandma Alessandrina, who has received from Friends of Italy once again to help on both orphans, both the purchase of the wheelchair is to rebuild the house, destroyed by the weather

For now I’ll deal of shopping, wandering through the markets, to realize exactly the costs. Today I found a Pajana, beautiful beans. Sold them a woman. The unit had a cup. 1000 called for three cups shillings. It has counted 150 and all three, not to lose the account, move with lightning, he threw a bean in his mouth. When there were more, they spit in the hand of Rosalba Anek, who guarded them for the final bill. And when he found himself with 50,000 shillings (about 20 euros), all at once, had an expression of incredulous joy.

I like to mix among the women, talk, even bargain away from Angal, where I do not yet know how mama Klaudia and where the relationship, I think, is more spontaneous and immediate.

But I must tell you also of a special meeting, which I tried vainly for years: that a female figure with mythical and mysterious: the agioga , a little’ witch Mim, healer, evocative of spirits, counselor and so on. I went with Matt (De Mayda).

The Agiòga

He did it through Rosalba Anek. The agioga , which is called Angela, received us graciously in the hut cluttered with amulets and skins of strange animals, where it exerts its powers, and has agreed to give us a paper, falling into a trance. Then he showed us the most dangerous objects used for black magic, she is able to find and “defuse “, led by the vibrations of a large quartz: a small horn filled with fairy dust , plugged with hair, capable, in his hands to absorb the blood of a lamb slain, thus removing the evil eye.

I was impressed by his penetrating eyes, his voice a bit ‘gruff and affectionate with whom I said: I know you very well .

Matteo De Mayda , so … (it was he who convinced me to organize that meeting – and I am grateful that he was a further step to understand the culture and mentality of Alur, the most hidden), remained at Angal three weeks to give a rule on the IT project ( OpenHospital , on behalf of Computers Without Borders ) and to collect photographic material and more useful for our association.

Next it was time dentist Pelligra Francis , which verified the performance of the project SMOM .

After his departure came the Sarti with the children, to spend a holiday here to work. They spent their first vacation, after returning to Italy at the end of their contract of one year, Angal, a very important sign for the people and the hospital staff.

few days will also Dr. John Goldfinch , his fifth mission, which will be taken in the presence of important agreements between the Association and the hospital administration.

’still here, and fortunately we will stay still for more than a year, Dr. Arianna Bortolani , whose presence is essential. It has not yet taken any days off. Luckily her mom came, Tiziana, to keep them a little ‘company and bring an air of home.

close with a thanks to all the friends that follow us.
Claudia

Appeal to the media and to the political authorities

before the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting in Kampala.

In PDF version for the press: Appeal for Peace in Northern Uganda

The undersigned organisations who are working for the good of the people of Northern Uganda, appeal to the political authorities and to the mass media who will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Summit in Kampala, from November 23rd to 25th, to visit Northern Uganda to see for themselves the tragic living conditions of the people in that part of the country.

While the peace talks between the Ugandan Government and the rebels of the LRA on a 21 year long war barely continue, more than a million people are forced to live in refugee camps in miserable conditions, awaiting to return to their homes and lands abandoned because of the war.
For their return it is first necessary to ensure a lasting peace, then the reclamation of land-mines from the land, the bringing of water wells into use again, the reconstruction of dispensaries, schools, houses for teachers, the distribution of working tools and seeds and, in the absence of certificates of land ownership, the protection of orphans and of those who cannot prove their residence in villages which are now destroyed.

To understand these needs it is necessary, for those attending the Commonwealth meeting, to leave the capital Kampala and go into the Northern and Eastern Uganda, to meet the people and to see with their own eyes those lands which in the last month have also been affected by floods.
Peace needs thousands of steps, even outside the capital.

Trusting in your sensitivity and concern.

Yours sincerely.

Pierangelo Monti – Good Samaritan Onlus

coordinator of this appeal – tel/fax 0125251012
pierangelo.monti(at)fastwebnet.it

Webmasters, we need you! Help us spread this appeal with a little banner by pasting the following code to your sites and bogs:

<a href="http://www.amicidiangal.org/2007/11/17/appello-per-il-nord-uganda/?lan=british" target="_blank" title="Appeal for the Peace in Northern Uganda"><img src="http://www.amicidiangal.org/images/pace-in-uganda-small-en.jpg" border="0"/></a>

to get:

and let us know by sending us a mail to info(at)amicidiangal.org so that we can add you to the following list.

31 sites and blogs are already participating to the campaign:

• Il Blog dei Marsiaj
• La Stella del Mattino – Ambito Buddista
• La Stella del Mattino – Ambito Cristiano
• Associazione Voce del Silenzio
• Coro Pueri Cantores di Vicenza
• Sinistra europea (con articolo)
• Hoax.it (Verifica Hoax e Appelli Umanitari) (con articolo)
• SPA Art – portale di artisti
• Associazione Culturale GENIUS LOCI di Matera
• Lo scarabocchio di Comicomix
• Torino e dintorni (con articolo)
• Blog di Bruno, abitante della Torino Olimpica
• Portale della Valchisone e Germanasca (con articolo)
• Parrocchia di San Lazzaro e Sacra Famiglia
• Blogsfere – Protonutrizione (con articolo)
• Quinta’s weblog
• Il Blog di Lebowsky (con articolo)
• OZ Design blog
• Cragganmore
• Parco Colli Berici
• Enerpoint sistemi solari (con articolo)
• El Giramundo (con articolo)
• Appunti di Michele
• Non Profit Online (con comunicato stampa)
• 7 Seven Magazine (con articolo e approfondimento)
• Ecohmedia
• Occhi di gatto
• Il Periscopio
• Ecologica-mente
• Babylonbus
• Volo di notte
• Franzine

• The official CHOGM 2007 site
• What is the CHOGM?