A Community Project
Hello to all of you, friends of Ombre e Luci. I've noticed that the magazine keeps getting richer and more engaging, and that makes me truly happy. Why not increase publication—make it bimonthly or monthly? I believe it reaches so many families as something they genuinely want to receive.
Until last year, I believed I could build a welcoming community for the severely disabled. I was deluding myself about many things, and many people. It wasn't easy to find someone who shared my vision, until last year when I met a couple who seemed to embrace this project.
Following my own research for an educator diploma thesis—a socio-territorial analysis—I drafted a detailed plan for an educational community based on dialogue. The couple willing to collaborate later refined and scaled it down with me. But it all fell apart. It came to nothing. Few people are willing to give one hundred percent. So I was left alone, with a utopian project gathering dust in a drawer. And I don't think I'll ever be able to realize it.
I know you have far more experience than I do in community work. I know Jean Vanier is part of your circle, so you don't need my suggestions. But I thought my project might come out of that drawer and be useful to someone. You're in touch with many people. Perhaps someone will want to start a community. I'm sending you a copy of the draft—you can judge whether it's worthwhile. The pages don't address the spiritual dimension, which is nonetheless its soul and the foundation for creating true dialogue and offering love.
Thank you for your presence.
- Luciana Spigolon
With All My Gratitude
I've subscribed to your wonderful magazine for quite some time now, and I love it very much because you help and bring so much comfort to many families who are alone with their most cherished children. Those children give you so much joy that a typical child simply cannot.
Eight years ago, I lost my dear Marinella. I miss her terribly!
I fill the great void she left in my heart by volunteering at the socio-educational center in my town. This helps me and gives me so much peace. A smile, a caress from these friends of mine—that's all I need to carry on.
- Cristina Bormolini
She Gives Me Good Advice
Mimma is my psychologist and she gives me good advice, and she helps me a lot, because the first time I didn't want to stay at the residence, because I didn't like how the place was set up, and now I'm very happy to stay there, and with my friends, because they care about me so much, and they're kind to me. I've learned so many things since I've been with them. And I've learned to take the bus by myself. And that makes me very happy, to go to the workshop. After the workshop, Franca walks me to the terminal to catch the bus home. At Ponte Galeria, they pick me up.
Mimma is very useful to me because she helps me build really secure relationships with my mother and my sister. Mimma told me I'm an independent and capable girl, which I couldn't do all these things before that I've learned now. And she also told me that I have to live my own life on my own. And with my friends. And I need to be with young people because I get bored at home, because Mom works at Clinica Città di Roma. And she found someone to care for an elderly woman at night who was very sick and has passed away. Mimma is very nice, and she cares about me so much. She explains things in a way I can understand and she gives me good advice for my own good.
- Mirella Stefani
This Is Not My Article
I do not consider myself the author of the article published in the January–March 1992 issue of "Ombre e Luci." Because it was cut, the article no longer expresses my ideas and my thoughts.
Sincerely
- Giovanni Nucci