"Let’s block poverty!"

Ph. Trabalza

Trento, October 16th, 2015

Many hands outstretched to the sky, one next to each other, trying to achieve together the best possible block. The Italian Champions perform this action thousands of times in the gym, and now it will be figuratively repeated in Kenya, to try stopping poverty and give hope to street children in Africa. This is the deepest meaning of "Let's do a block  against poverty", a collaborative project between Trentino Volley and Amref Health Africa that was presented to the press this morning at the Grand Hotel Trento.
After hitting in quick succession Europe, South America and Asia because of its commitments in international sports, the Club chaired by Diego Mosna, from this season will be also in African fields, committed to achieve an important partnership’s initiative with the Association that for almost 60 years has worked for the health of this continent. Trentino Volley has strongly tried and wanted a bond with Amref Health Africa, by providing their knowledge and their love for volleyball, to give shape to a project for the many young people that live in the slums and shantytowns of Nairobi, Kenya.
Since 2000, AMREF is committed in the Kenyan capital in a recovery and rehabilitation program of street children in Dagoretti, a suburb of the city, affecting directly or indirectly thousands of beneficiaries, also thanks to the work done inside the Children's Village, structure built in 2012 by Amref. Until now Amref has guaranteed medical care and food, basic education and small micro-credit projects. The next step will concern the psycho-physical rehabilitation and social integration through artistic activities and communications, thanks to the partnership with Trentino Volley.
Now the guys of Dagoretti will be able to follow even a new, exciting, trajectory, characterized by values and rules of the sport and especially volleyball. Thus was born the project "Street Volleyball", to create new opportunities for recovery through sport: Trentino Volley will send to Nairobi some members of its technical staff, who will be responsible for overseeing and guiding the activities of street children with volleyball with the aim of transmitting the values of this wonderful sport. A mission that is not easy, but at the same time very challenging and that represent a great goal to do the best in and outside the field.
"We want to bring our award organization skills in sport and also in the world of solidarity” - said the President of Trentino Volley Diego Mosna -. “We care about realities as those of the suburb of Dagoretti; even if we manage to add just a drop in this ocean we would be happy and satisfied.”
"In Dagoretti we experienced different ways to ensure to children and street children a better future. We did it with theater - let’s think ok Black Pinocchio-, with journalism, and part video. Today we want to launch a new challenge, through volleyball” - announced Mario Raffaelli, President of Health Amref Africa in Italy. -“Sport by its nature is a great attractive force and we want to use it to let our Children give to the children in those Villages, who often live in a suburb where the degradation of family abandonment, drugs, exploitation are the masters. With Trentino Volley we agreed in thinking to a long-term project, three years as a minimum. We think of an exchange, in which the athletes or the coaching staff of the team can be put at the disposal of street children and, maybe one day will form an international team Amref of volleyball. I have launched this idea, a dream for now, to the board of AMREF, a few days ago in Uganda; waiting to start it, we begin to work to give a future to African communities, because if it won’t be like this , there won’t be a wall against those who, out of desperation, are forced to leave their land.”
"When two excellent realities such as Trentino Volleyball and Amref, meet to create a shared project, definitely the collaboration will lead to good results” - explained Sara Ferrari, Provincial Councillor for Youth, Gender and Development Cooperation. -”We really appreciate the idea of growing communities and stimulate hidden potential of territories like Africa.”
"Trentino Volley has given us sporting satisfaction but today has given us something different that goes deep, and touches the heart of all of us: I am sure that thanks to them, many people know this project” - smiled the Provincial Councillor for Sports Tiziano Mellarini -. “This initiative shows how sport is important for the social fabric, and for those countries that do not have the quality of life that our children can boast instead. Makes us think of many athletes that didn’t have any chance and thanks to this kind of initiatives which changes this.”
"To make available your sporting experience for a project of international cooperation is honorable for Trentino Volley”- concluded the Councillor of the City of Trento Andrea Robol -. “This is very significant and allows our Company to jump higher. Congratulations to everyone."

For more information: www.amref.it/facciamo_muro/

Trentino Volley Srl
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