Cascina Bolbinasco in Milan, historical headquarters of Coopi, NGO founded sixty years ago.
“Millions of lives. A commitment that continues”: it is the slogan that animates the celebration, this year, of the first sixty years of life and activities of the NGO Coopi -International Coopi -Coopo – founded in 1965 by the Jesuit Father Vincenzo Babieri. And it is also the common thread of the tenth edition of the event “Coopi – Cascina Open”. On Saturday 20 September the humanitarian organization – active in Italy and in the world – opens to the citizens of Milan, adults and children, the doors of its Milan historical headquarters, the Boldinasco Cascina (via de Lemene 50, Certosa -Gallarate neighborhood) for an afternoon and an evening of meetings, testimonies, workshops, exhibitions, moments of deepening that will also involve cooperating active in the most critical areas of the world, to tell some of the great global emergencies, often forgotten.
The program includes, at 3 pm, the opening of three historical photographic exhibitions: “Work for Hope” by Alessandro Gandolfi, who tells how the humanitarian projects of Coopi, carried out in Palestine for 10 years, have transformed the work into an instrument of dignity and hope for the most vulnerable communities; “To keep, survive” by Marco Mesa, dedicated to the challenge of the Milanese NGO aimed at protecting biodiversity in the Park of the Apemba, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reconciling it with the food safety of local populations; And finally “A heart for the Sierra Leone” by Alessandro Gandolfi, on the project undertaken after the 2014 Ebola epidemic to relaunch the cultivation of anachds, small heart -shaped seeds, capable of transforming the future of hundreds of farmers.
After the institutional greetings of the president of Coopi, Claudio Ceravolo – Milanese doctor with a long experience with Coopi in Africa, in particular in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – together with the president of the Town Hall 8, Giulia Pelucchi, other appointments will follow, including among which The testimonies from the field and the presentation of the social budget 2024, which highlights Coopi’s commitment in 33 countries, including Italy, with 213 projects in favor of over 7 million people. To illustrate the results and the future prospects will be the director Ennio Miccoli, in dialogue with the journalist Antonella Tagliabue, who will also introduce “United against poverty in Milan”, the story of the synergies activated and along the project of the fight against poverty and food waste of Coopi, from food policy to the Qubì network of the Municipality of Milan.
The entrance is open to all and free of charge, but reservation is required, which can be made via e-mail at [email protected] or by calling 02 3085057. For information on Coopi and its activities: www.coopi.org