Pubblicato il bando 2024 per 4 tirocini di ricerca su “Impresa, globalizzazione e sostenibilità” per collaborare con l’OCIVC – “Osservatorio Cooperazione Internazionale, Impresa e Valore Condiviso”, Istituito dalla Fondazione Cariello Corbino – ETS con il DiSP – Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche dell’Università Federico II di Napoli. Il bando è riservato agli studenti delle lauree magistrali in International Relations e Relazioni Internazionali e Analisi di Scenario. Di seguito il bando: https://www.scienzepolitiche.unina.it/?p=4305.

Africa does not exist. Take a look at the newspapers today, listen to the news: it just doesn’t exist. Just as its immense diversity does not exist, what makes each African country unique and so different from another. But we still refuse to recognize Africa, its diversity, its potential, its dreams. As if we were frightened of it and wanted to dismiss the idea that this continent may one day rise up and look us in the eye.

We asked Brynn Crawford, a student at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, while carrying out her internship in Human Rights at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento – Italy, to summarize as much as possible 3 “faces” of our Africa, with the intention of making them available to a wider public. This is the third one: what can we do to solve problems which just seem to be too big and too far way from us?

Background. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country located in central Africa. With an area of 905,400 square miles, it is the second-largest country on the continent (after Algeria) and the largest of the sub-Saharan countries. As of July 2021, it is estimated that the DRC has a population of 105 million people. This makes the DRC the 4th most populous country in Africa and the 15th most populous country in the world.[1] The population of the Congo has been growing steadily over time, with the average growth rate hovering around 3 percent. Because of this steady growth rate, the country also has a very young population with 46.38 percent of the population being between 0-14 years of age. While the population growth has been rather steady, the country’s economic growth rate has been nothing short of sporadic. In 1962 The DRC reached an all-time high economic growth rate of 21%, in 1993 they hit an all-time low of -13.5 percent.[2] Currently the country’s economic growth is yet again on the decline at 0.8 percent in 2020.[3] This sporadic economic growth can be directly linked to a combination of systemic governmental corruption, and national instability due to armed conflict. These issues have plagued the country since its independence from Belgium in 1960. In 2020 the Democratic Republic of the Congo received a score of 18/100 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI).[4] The CPI uses “expert assessments and opinion surveys” to rank countries “on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt).” Thus, the DRC’s score indicates that its public sector is perceived to be highly corrupt.

DRC mining industry. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a diverse geography, it is home to the world’s second-largest rainforest in the west, a volcanic mountainous region in the east, and savannahs and grasslands situated in-between. Because of this geographic diversity, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is endowed with almost every valuable natural resource, including large mineral deposits of coltan, cobalt, gold, diamonds, etc. However, even with the country’s seemingly endless supply of mineral resources, the DRC has one of the highest rates of impoverishment in the world.[5] Additionally, in 2020 the United Nations Human Development Index ranked the Democratic Republic of the Congo the 175^th least developed out of 189 countries.[6]Many scholars believe that the impoverishment and underdevelopment in the DRC can be linked to a phenomenon known as the “resource curse.” This phenomenon occurs in countries with abundant natural resources. The phenomenon of the resource curse is marked by affected countries having less economic growth and worse developmental outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is particularly rich in the mineral’s cobalt and coltan. These minerals are highly sought after by the technology industry, as they are primarily used in the manufacturing of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, such as those used to power expensive electronic devices like mobile phones, and laptop computers. It is believed that in 2014 half of the cobalt used in making these batteries was mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[7]  And in 2019 it was reported that the DRC was responsible for mining 40 percent of the world’s coltan supply.[8]

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has faced a turbulent history over the years and has been marred by years of conflict; beginning with its independence from Belgium in the 1960s to the civil wars and continued conflict we see today. Because of the country’s turbulent history, the mining industry has developed in such a way that it has continued to operate despite the sustained conflict. However, not all development is for the betterment of society. Throughout the 1990s, the DRC was thrown into two civil wars. This instability caused many foreign companies in the country, including those in the mining industry, to leave and seek business opportunities elsewhere. Due to this mass exodus, the DRC’s largest industrial mining operation closed, and the country was thrown into economic turmoil. This left thousands of individuals without any form of income, worsening the country’s poverty crisis. To combat this, many former mineworkers, as well as everyday citizens and children, have taken up the practice of “artisanal mining”- hand digging mine tunnels to gather and sell the mine’s lucrative cobalt supply on their own. After the second civil war had subsided, foreign companies began to return to the area and resume mining. Currently, there are around 25 mining companies active in the DRC, with many of them being owned by foreign countries. However, it is still currently estimated that 20 percent of the country’s cobalt exports are generated by artisanal miners.[9] The minerals, whether generated by small scale artisanal miners, or large-scale foreign mining operations (such as those owned by Australia, China, The United Kingdom, and the United States), are then sold to traders, who then sell the minerals to multibillion-dollar technology firms such as Apple, Google, Tesla, and Microsoft[10]. While slightly better off than the majority of the population (who live on 1.90 U.S. dollars a day[11]) the miners themselves will only make between 2-3 U.S. dollars for a whole day’s work.[12]  Both the formal (company owned) and informal (artisanal) mining sectors come with their own risk sets. However, those working in the formal mining sector are slightly more protected than those who work in the informal sector. Artisanal mining comes with a myriad of risks and very little reward. While governmental regulations on both sectors do exist, many argue that they do not do enough to protect the workers. The government provides little to no instruction on how to safely build and manage artisanal mines.[13] Due to this lack of information, artisanal mining tunnels often lack appropriate structural support and proper ventilation. This puts artisanal miners at an increased risk of death due to asphyxiation or tunnel collapse. In addition to the lack of regulations on how to construct and maintain the tunnels, there is also little to no information on how a miner should safely handle the mineral they are mining.[14] Many miners in the DRC, particularly in the artisanal sector, lack access to basic protective equipment; this, coupled with poor ventilation, puts mineworkers at an increased risk for health problems associated with exposure to these minerals. One of the most common health issues reported by miners in the DRC is “hard metal lung disease” (also known as pulmonary fibrosis.) This is a condition in which the lung tissue thickens and stiffens due to damage and scarring, making it increasingly more difficult for the affected individual to breathe. Some other commonly reported health issues by cobalt miners include asthma, shortness of breath, and dermatitis[15].

With new forms of technology being invented so frequently, the demand for cobalt is without a doubt on the rise. One would expect that the miners of such an in-demand resource would see major improvements in working conditions, as what they do is very valuable to large technology companies; however, this is not the case. Mine workers in both the DRC’s informal and formal sectors put their lives and health at risk every day to feed the growing global demand for cobalt and coltan but have very little to show for it. With the exponential growth of the technology industry and the demand for these minerals, mineworkers are still forced to work in unsafe and inhumane conditions for very little pay. All of this takes place while the technology industry nets billions of dollars every year in profits from the sale of smartphones, laptop computers, and many other electronic devices.

CSR and the DRC. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is defined as “a self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable—to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. By practicing corporate social responsibility, also called corporate citizenship, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they are having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental.”[16]  This great disparity between mineworker and technology company, is due to the fact that the large companies that buy cobalt and coltan from the DRC do not take any responsibility for the conditions under which it is mined, or by whom it is mined. This lack of corporate social responsibility has contributed heavily to the stagnation of the DRC’s economy. With its vast assortment of natural resources, the DRC could easily be one of the wealthiest countries in the world. However, in 2018 it was estimated that 73% of the Congolese population (about 60 million people) lived on less than $1.90 a day.[17] This is hardly enough money to cover basic living necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing, much less education. The people of the Congo struggle everyday just to survive and afford the most basic things they need, and for most families there is no room for spending on anything that is not essential. Thus, the “recreational” spending that is needed to grow economies simply does not exist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The government, large international mining companies, and the technology industry continue to fail the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo every day by putting economic gain ahead of the basic needs of everyday citizens. In failing to promote humane and sustainable mining practices, as well as fair wages, these entities are conspiring to keep the population of the DRC in “survival mode”- meaning they must work and provide goods to these companies in order to be able to afford even the most basic living necessities, thus eliminating any chance of upward mobility in life.

Any important change that has ever occurred first started with awareness. When awareness is brought to an important issue, and more people know about injustices taking place, there is greater opportunity for something to be done to correct the wrongdoing. In this instance, large technology companies, who purchase cobalt and coltan from the DRC, are beholden to consumers to purchase the products they sell. Due to this dependent relationship, the consumers hold an immense amount of power – namely that of purchasing power. By withholding their purchasing power or exercising it elsewhere, consumers can place pressure on companies to improve their CSR practices. In doing this, the consumer can help to combat injustices like the irresponsible sourcing of minerals and the human rights abuses taking place in the DRC’s mines.

[1] “Central Intelligence Agency- Congo, Democratic Republic of the.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/congo-democratic-republic-of-the/

[2] “GDP Growth (Annual %) – Congo, Dem. Rep.” Data, data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=CD.

[3] “GDP Growth (Annual %) – Congo, Dem. Rep.” Data, data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=CD.

[4] “2020 – Corruption Perception Index.” Transparency International, www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020.

[5] “Overview- DRC.” World Bank, 2 Apr. 2021, www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview

[6] “Human Development Reports.” | Human Development Reports, United Nations, 2020, hdr.undp.org/en/2020 report.

[7]   The US Geological Survey (USGS), Mineral Commodity Summary: Cobalt 2015.

[8] “Why It’s Hard for Congo’s Coltan Miners to Abide by the Law.” The Economist, The Economist Newspaper, www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2021/01/21/why-its-hard-for-congos-coltan-miners-to-abide-by-the-law.

[9] “Amnesty International. ‘This Is What We Die For: Human Rights Abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Power the Global Trade in Cobalt.’”  Amnesty International.

[10]  “Top Tech Firms Sued over DR Congo Cobalt Mining Deaths.” BBC News, BBC, 16 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50812616.

[11] “Overview- DRC.” World Bank, 2 Apr. 2021, www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview

[12] “This Is Where Your Smartphone Battery Begins.” The Washington Post, WP Company, www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/batteries/congo-cobalt-mining-for-lithium-ion-battery/.

[13] “Amnesty International. ‘This Is What We Die For: Human Rights Abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Power the Global Trade in Cobalt.’”  Amnesty International.

[14] “Amnesty International. ‘This Is What We Die For: Human Rights Abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Power the Global Trade in Cobalt.’”  Amnesty International.

[15] “Amnesty International. ‘This Is What We Die For: Human Rights Abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Power the Global Trade in Cobalt.’”  Amnesty International.

[16] Fernando, Jason. “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).” Investopedia, Investopedia, 6 July 2021, www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corp-social-responsibility.asp. 

[17]  “Overview- DRC.” World Bank, 2 Apr. 2021, www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview.

Africa does not exist. Take a look at the newspapers today, listen to the news: it just doesn’t exist. Just as its immense diversity does not exist, what makes each African country unique and so different from another. But we still refuse to recognize Africa, its diversity, its potential, its dreams. As if we were frightened of it and wanted to dismiss the idea that this continent may one day rise up and look us in the eye.

We asked Brynn Crawford, a student at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, while carrying out her internship in Human Rights at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento – Italy, to summarize as much as possible 3 “faces” of our Africa, with the intention of making them available to a wider public. This is the second one.

Background. Albinism is an inherited condition that is characterized by little or no production of the pigment melanin. The type and amount of melanin produced in a person’s body is responsible for determining the color of their skin, hair, and eyes. Melanin also serves as a protective pigment that guards the body against the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Those living with albinism, especially in areas close to the equator, are at an increased risk of suffering from the harmful effects of the sun. Due to the lack of protective pigment in the eyes, those living with albinism suffer from severe vision problems such as involuntary nystagmus, photophobia, poor depth perception, strabismus (squint), poor visual acuity, and refractive errors.[1] Additionally, people with albinism are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer, particularly if they live in areas close to the equator. In 2012 a study of 64 skin cancer patients with albinism was conducted at a hospital in Tanzania. The researchers found that 84 percent of the individuals in the study were under 40 years of age and 8 percent were between 11 and 20 years of age.[2]

The dangers. There is another side of albinism that is talked about far less frequently, and that is the social stigma around the condition that is prevalent in certain parts of the world. In African countries people with albinism are met with fear and suspicion because their physical appearance is so different from their family and neighbors. In many African countries people with albinism live in constant fear for their lives, as it is believed that their body parts have magical powers that are used in witchcraft rituals. Witch doctors continue to perpetuate this narrative around albinism by taking advantage of superstitious beliefs, and the lack of widely disseminated credible information about the causes of the condition. Additionally, witch doctors’ prey on the country’s large, impoverished population, taking advantage of the length’s individuals will go to ensure they can provide for their families. According to data from the United Nations, prices on the black market for albino body parts can range from $2,000 (€ 1,640) for a limb to $75,000 (€ 61,508) for a whole body.[3]

The main targets for attacks on people with albinism are often children; It is a traditional belief that the more innocent a victim is, the more potent their body part will be for witchcraft ritual. Many of these attacks are not documented or reported, making it very difficult to determine the frequency with which these heinous acts are committed. The charity, Under the Same Sun, who work to provide education and public awareness on albinism in Africa, has compiled a list of reported attacks and killings of persons with albinism in 30 African countries.[4] These countries include Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland (Eswatini), Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Across the 30 countries, Under the Same Sun reported that there was a total of 622 incidents – 407 reported attacks and 216 reported killings, however due to lack of data and proper documentation it is likely that the actual number of incidents is much higher. According to the available data, it was determined that the most dangerous country in Africa for persons living with albinism was Tanzania. Data collected by Under the Same Sun stated that there was a total of 200 reported incidents against persons with albinism in the country alone. These included 77 killings, 94 survivors, 25 grave desecrations, 3 asylum cases, and 1 missing person.[5]

Uganda: there come hope. In Uganda, where the Fondazione Cariello Corbino has its third African project, there are many conflicting beliefs surrounding individuals with albinism. In Uganda, as well as other African countries, it is widely believed that individuals with albinism are ghosts or spiritual beings sent as a curse upon their families for some wrongdoing. Because of this stigma people with albinism face a myriad of struggles and discrimination that follow them through every stage of their lives. Children with albinism in Uganda are often denied the opportunity to attend school and receive an education. Many times, these children come from poor families that do not feel it is worth it to spend the money to educate a child with albinism. This is either because the family chooses to hide their child away or they do not believe a person living with albinism can ever be successful.  When a child with albinism in Uganda makes it into a classroom, they face another set of challenges. Children with albinism are subject to bullying and discrimination from classmates and teachers alike. Additionally, children with albinism are often denied much-needed learning accommodations, such as being able to sit closer to the front of the classroom. With these educational barriers in place, many students with albinism do not make it to studying at the university level. Researchers from the University of Birmingham interviewed a woman with albinism who was able to attend and graduate from university. She said despite all her hard work and academic success that she is unable to get a job. She attributed this to the deeply ingrained belief in Ugandan society that people with albinism cannot accomplish anything of merit.^[1] Unfortunately, this type of discrimination in employment is not a singular occurrence. Those who can get jobs, particularly women, are often subject to harassment by colleagues and employers in the workplace, as well as low pay. Due to widespread employment discrimination within Uganda, people with albinism are often forced to create their own forms of work to support themselves and provide for their families. However, there is discrimination that exists in this employment sector as well; with many people in the country being unwilling to purchase products that a person with albinism as they believe they are cursed. This discrimination in all types of employment often leaves people with albinism living in very poor situations. 

To help combat the deep-rooted stigma around albinism that exists within Uganda and to empower those who are disenfranchised, the Fondazione Cariello Corbino (FCC) has teamed up with a Ugandan NGO Women and Children with Albinism in Uganda (WACWAU). Together the FCC and WACWAU work to raise funds to support the Mama Mzungu Natural Soap Company. Mama Mzungu is owned and operated by women who are living with or who have children or family members that are affected by albinism. The goal of the company is to provide safety, meaningful employment, and economic empowerment to these affected women and their families in Uganda. The funds raised by the FCC help to provide the company with the necessary skills, resources, and technology needed to run a successful business.  To learn more about Mama Mzungu or to purchase their products please click here: https://www.mamamzungu.co/

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[1] Albinism.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 7 Apr. 2018,

[2] Mabula J.B., Chalya P.L., Mchembe M.D., Jaka H., Giiti G., Rambau P et al. (2012) Skin cancers among Albinos at a University teaching hospital in Northwestern Tanzania: a retrospective review of 64 cases. BMC Dermatology.

[3] “Ending Albino Persecution in Africa | Africa Renewal.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2017-march-2018/ending-albino-persecution-africa.

[4] Under The Same Sun. “Reported Attacks of Persons with Albinism”

[5] Under The Same Sun. “Reported Attacks of Persons with Albinism”

^[6] Bradbury-Jones, C, Ogik, P, Betts, J, Taylor, J & Lund, P 2018, ‘Beliefs about people with albinism in Uganda: A qualitative study using the Common-Sense Model’, PLoS ONE, vol. 13, no. 10, e0205774. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205774)

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Africa does not exist. Take a look at the newspapers today, listen to the news: it just doesn’t exist. Just as its immense diversity does not exist, what makes each African country unique and so different from another. But we still refuse to recognize Africa, its diversity, its potential, its dreams. As if we were frightened of it and wanted to dismiss the idea that this continent may one day rise up and look us in the eye.

We asked Brynn Crawford, a student at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, while carrying out her internship in Human Rights at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento – Italy, to summarize as much as possible 3 “faces” of our Africa, with the intention of making them available to a wider public. This is the first.

Background. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country located in central Africa. It is the second-largest country on the continent (after Algeria) and the largest of the sub-Saharan countries. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a diverse geography, it is home to the world’s second-largest rainforest in the west, a volcanic mountainous region in the east, and savannahs and grasslands situated in-between. Because of this geographic diversity, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is endowed with almost every valuable natural resource- including, but not limited to, diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, coltan, timber, and oil. However, despite its vast assortment, and relatively easy access to this huge reserve of valuable materials, The DRC has one of the highest impoverished populations in the world.^[1] In 2018 it was reported by the World Bank that an estimated 73% of the Congolese population (around 60 million people) live on less than $1.90 a day.^[2] Due to the intense poverty and lack of economic development, The United Nations Human Development Index ranked the Democratic Republic of the Congo the 175^th least developed out of 189 countries in the year 2020.[3]

The curse of resources. Why does a country with such an abundance of natural resources struggle so much with poverty and lack of human development? Many scholars believe that the impoverishment and underdevelopment are a result of a phenomenon known as the “resource curse.” This phenomenon occurs in countries that have an abundance of natural resources and is marked by these countries having less economic growth, or worse developmental outcomes than countries with less natural resources.  Scholars have argued that the resource curse may increase the likelihood of civil war. If tensions start to rise within a given region, there are many industries, such as manufacturing, that can move to safer locations. However, this is not an option for industries that deal with natural resources (such as mining), as the natural apportionment of resources in a region is not something that can be moved or changed. The rebels take advantage of this captive market and use it to sustain their operations by looting mines for resources, extorting mining companies for money, and exploiting workers. Additionally, scholars also argue that the resource curse can aid in the elongation of civil war. Many rebels have found that the economic gain of civil war (forcibly taking and selling resources) vastly outweighs any gains that could be received from reaching a peace agreement.[4] Therefore, to these rebels, there is little to no incentive to stop fighting because economically they are profiting from the unrest and chaos; because of this war is almost perpetually sustained.

This system of resource stealing, exploitation, perpetual civil war, and the existence of a kleptocratic government keeps the everyday person in the DRC living in fear and severe poverty. The cycle of impoverishment sustained through these systems becomes especially prominent during times of increased hardship- such as in the wake of natural disasters. On 22^nd, May 2021 Mount Nyiragongo, an active stratovolcano, situated in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, erupted with little warning. The volcano is located 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) outside the city of Goma, which is estimated to be home to between 650,000-1 million people. The lava flow stopped just short of the Goma city limits, but it caused much destruction along the way as 17 surrounding villages, 600 homes, 5 school buildings, and several healthcare centers sustained severe damage or were destroyed. Additionally, the lava flow destroyed much of the area’s important infrastructure such as the freshwater pipeline, the main electricity line, and portions of a major supply highway.^[5]  According to the World Bank’s 2018 estimate, 73% of the Congolese population lives on less than $1.90 a day.^[6] This type of mass destruction has devastated the area, taken what little the people of this area do have, as well as exacerbated many issues they were already dealing with. The major concerns currently are rebuilding and repairing the destroyed and damaged infrastructure; particularly the water pipeline so that clean water and access to sanitation can be quickly restored, and the spread of diseases, such as cholera, can be mitigated. Many humanitarian organizations, such as U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), have been leading recovery efforts and providing emergency assistance. However, due to poverty, violence, and corruption in this area of the Congo, it may take years for the villages surrounding Goma to fully recover.

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^[1]  “Overview- DRC.” World Bank, 2 Apr. 2021, www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview.

^[2] “Overview- DRC.” World Bank, 2 Apr. 2021, www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview

[3] “Human Development Reports.” | Human Development Reports, United Nations, 2020, hdr.undp.org/en/2020 report.

[4] Ross, Michael L. “How Do Natural Resources Influence Civil War? Evidence from Thirteen Cases.” International Organization, vol. 58, no. 1, 2004, pp. 35–67. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3877888. Accessed 1 June 2021

^[5] ABC News, ABC News Network, abcnews.go.com/International/volcanic-eruption-democratic-republic-congo-leaves-15-dead/story?id=77867875.

^[6] “Overview- DRC.” World Bank, 2 Apr. 2021, www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview

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As you know, the Cariello Corbino Foundation has been assisting the community of Idjwi island, in the Democratic Republic of Congo lake Kivu, in the last two years. Thanks to the very efficient work of Mr. Kizungu Hubert and its co-workers and volunteers of VMCC, your generous donations have been translated into very successful projects, making a big difference for the life of the poorest in that community. Helen Pope, our inspiration and person in charge for the Idjwi project, who has been volunteering in the region for over 10 years, created an e-book to describe, with powerful pictures, what’s going on in this beautiful but forgotten heaven. The price is only 10 euros, that, as usual, will directly be sent to our local partner Volunteers in Mission for Children Care: the best way to learn more about Congo and to support our projects:  Idjwi Island Charity eBook – Meaningful Paths .

Come sapete, negli ultimi due anni la Fondazione Cariello Corbino sta assistendo la comunità dell’isola di Idjwi, nel lago Kivu della Repubblica Democratica del Congo. Grazie al lavoro molto efficiente di Kizungu Hubert e dei suoi collaboratori e volontari di VMCC, le vostre generose donazioni si traducono in progetti di grande successo, facendo una grande differenza per la vita dei più poveri in quella comunità.
Helen Pope, la nostra ispirazione e responsabile del progetto Idjwi, che è volontaria nella regione da oltre 10 anni, ha creato un e-book per descrivere, con l’ausilio di immagini bellissime, cosa sta succedendo in questo bellissimo paradiso dimenticato. Il prezzo è di soli 10 euro, che, come di consueto, verranno inviati direttamente al nostro partner locale, Volunteers in Mission for Children Care: il modo migliore per saperne di più sul Congo e per, allo stesso tempo, sostenere i nostri progetti:  Idjwi Island Charity eBook – Meaningful Paths .

L’umanità ha mandato Perseverance su Marte, un altro enorme passo della ricerca scientifica. Le hanno dato il nome di ciò che ci è voluto per riuscire in un’impresa così difficile: far atterrare sul pianeta rosso un robot con le ruote, armato di macchine fotografiche e bracci meccanici.  Il mondo intero freme in attesa delle foto emozionanti che ci invierà.  Tramite l’analisi dei campioni prelevati, una volta che, nel 2031, riusciremo a riportarli sulla Terra tramite un’altra serie di emozionanti missioni, potremmo sapere se c’è mai stata vita sul pianeta rosso. Un’attesa di 10 anni.

Avevo 10 anni o poco più quando la maestra ci dettò la traccia del tema in classe più o meno intitolato: “E’ giusto spendere soldi per andare nello spazio, al posto di salvare milioni di bambini affamati?”. Vita su Marte, vita in Africa, appunto! Lo svolgimento del mio tema fu a totale favore dei bambini affamati, immagino perché quando ero piccolo mamma mi diceva che ero magro come un bambino del Biafra o forse  perché ero poco scienziato. Ma avevo 10 anni.

Poco più di 10 anni fa visitai per la prima volta un orfanotrofio della Repubblica Democratica del Congo, i “chukudu kids”. A Goma, area di conflitto al confine con Ruanda. Nell’orfanotrofio vi erano 16 ragazzini e 2 letti a castello (i calcoli fateli voi). Non c’era pavimento e il gabinetto era un buco nella lava, nello spazio antistante la baracca di legno buia dove dormivano, mangiavano riso e fagioli e studiavano.  Avevo con me pastelli e qualche foglio di carta,  passai un’oretta a fare scarabocchi a quei bambini che mi guardavano stupiti come fossi un marziano.

A 10 anni da quel giorno, qualche mese fa, mi sono arrivate via mail delle foto, che marziane è dir poco. Una di quelle bimbe, Lucienne, con un semplice telefonino, aveva scattato immagini strabilianti alla comunità pigmea dell’isola di Idjwi che la Fondazione Cariello Corbino supporta grazie a voi donatori. Sorrisi, abbracci, gente al lavoro, la prova che in Africa c’è vita. Solo ieri, quando Perseverance è atterrata con i suoi teleobiettivi su Marte, ho realizzato che anche io, il più insignificante membro di un team di Perseveratori, avevo contribuito nel mio piccolo a mandare in orbita la nostra sonda Lucienne, che era atterrata sana e salva e ora stava facendo ciò che sognava: fotografare.

Di ritorno dai miei viaggi africani, ho pensato più volte a quel tema, a quel dilemma tra frontiera della scienza e frontiera dell’umanità che la maestra Anna ci aveva posto. Il mio svolgimento oggi sarebbe diversa, perché ho più informazioni: il giusto sta nel mezzo!  E’ dovere dell’uomo proseguire nella ricerca scientifica, sia essa verso lo spazio che nella medicina, come in altri campi delle scienze fisiche, economiche, umanistiche. E’ la ricerca che ci ha fatto progredire, creare forme di comunicazione, curare temibili malattie, costruire ponti.  Ma sarebbe anche dovere dell’uomo avanzare verso la frontiera della umanità, verso la cura definitiva di fame, sete e ingiustizia sociale. Tra 10 anni sapremo se c’è stata vita su Marte, chissà come sarà la vita in Africa.

Oggi so che non è una questione di risorse economiche: ne abbiamo per tutti. Solo che, mentre si continua a investire enormi risorse nella conquista dello spazio, non lo si fa nella conquista della dignità, per tirare fuori dalla povertà assoluta oltre 800 milioni di persone (tra cui la maggior parte donne e bambini) nel mondo. Dignità non solo per loro, ma anche per noi, che assistiamo impotenti o indifferenti alla loro sofferenza.

Sono sinceramente ammirato da sognatori come Elon Musk, che vuol passare alla storia come il primo ad aver organizzato viaggi privati sulla Luna. Ma se avendo la sua genialità o la disponibilità economica,  preferirei passare alla storia come quello che ha portato acqua potabile e istruzione gratuita a tutti i bambini del mondo.  Penso proprio che  in questo cambio di visione ci guadagnerebbe tutta l’umanità: tra dieci anni potremmo tutti guardare la luna col cuore più leggero. Nell’attesa: c’è ahimè bisogno di ognuno di voi!

Humanity has sent Perseverance to Mars, another huge step in scientific research. They gave it the name of what it took to succeed in such a difficult undertaking: to land a robot with wheels, armed with cameras and mechanical arms, on the red planet. The whole world is trembling in anticipation of the exciting photos he will send us. Through the analysis of the samples taken, once we are able to bring them back to Earth through another series of exciting missions in 2031, we may know if there has ever been life on the red planet. A wait of 10 years.

I was ten or so when the teacher dictated the outline of the topic in the classroom more or less entitled: "Is it right to spend money to go to space, instead of saving millions of starving children?". Life on Mars, live in Africa... The development of my theme was in total favor of hungry children, I guess because when I was little, my mother told me that I was thin like a child from Biafra or perhaps because I was never a scientist. But I was 10.

A little over 10 years ago, I visited an orphanage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the first time, the "chukudu kids". In Goma, a conflict area on the border with Rwanda. In the orphanage there were 16 children and 2 bunk beds (you do the calculations). There was no floor and the toilet was a hole in the lava, in the space in front of the dark wooden shack where they slept, ate rice and beans and studied. I had crayons and a few sheets of paper with me, I spent an hour making scribbles to those children who looked at me astonished as if I were a Martian.

10 years from that day, a few months ago, I received some photos via email, which are Martian to say the least. One of those girls, Lucienne, with a simple mobile phone, had taken amazing images of the pygmy community of the island of Idjwi that the Cariello Corbino Foundation supports thanks to you donors. Smiles, hugs, people at work, proof that there is life in Africa. Only yesterday, when Perseverance landed with its telephoto lenses on Mars, did I realize that even I, the most insignificant member of a team of Perseverators, had contributed in my small way to send our Lucienne probe into orbit, which had landed safe and sound. and now he was doing what he dreamed of: photographing. Returning from my African travels, I thought several times about that theme, about that dilemma between the frontier of science and the frontier of humanity that the teacher Anna had posed to us.

My development today would be different, because I have more information: the right is somewhere in between! It is man’s duty to continue scientific research, both towards space and medicine, as in other fields of the physical, economic and humanistic sciences. It is research that has made us progress, create forms of communication, cure terrible diseases, build bridges. But it would also be man’s duty to move towards the frontier of humanity, towards the definitive cure for hunger, thirst and social injustice. In 10 years we will know if there was life on Mars, who knows what life will be like in Africa. Today I know that it is not a question of economic resources: we have them for everyone. Except that, while we continue to invest enormous resources in the conquest of space, we do not do so in the conquest of dignity, to lift over 800 million people (including most women and children) in the world out of absolute poverty. Dignity not only for them, but also for us, who are helpless or indifferent to their suffering.

I am sincerely admired by dreamers like Elon Musk, who wants to go down in history as the first to have organized private trips to the Moon. But if having his genius or financial resources, I would rather go down in history as the one who brought clean water and free education to all the children of the world. I really think that in this change of vision all humanity would gain: in 10 years we could all look at the moon with the lightest heart. In the meantime: we need each of us!

Abbiamo fatto i conti. E ve li diciamo, in totale trasparenza, come d’abitudine. Nel 2020, nonostante la crisi, abbiamo raccolto oltre 46.000 euro e ne abbiamo donati oltre 60.000 (grazie alle eccedenze degli anni passati) a ben 11 progetti (5 in RDCongo, 1 in Uganda, 2 in Malawi, 2 in Pakistan, 1 a Napoli) + 3 una tantum per emergenza Covid19 (2 a Napoli, 1 in RDCongo). Dal 2017 a oggi abbiamo donato 244.389,08 euro (vi sembra poco?) per restituire dignità e speranza a orfani, scolari, bambini lavoratori, comunità pigmee e albine, giovani e anziani. Grazie a migliaia di ora di lavoro di assoluto volontariato abbiamo decuplicato il 100% delle vostre generose donazioni trasformandole non solo in cibo, vestiti, libri, pastelli e cure mediche, ma anche in zappe, pannelli solari, stipendi, pollai, alveari, acqua corrente, luce, diplomi di cucito e falegnameria. Non solo assistenza, ma micro progetti di sviluppo, per consentire loro di svolgere una vita dignitosa nel proprio nella propria comunità. Miracoli? No, noi vi abbiamo semplicemente aiutato ad aiutare. E vi ringraziamo, chiedendovi solo di continuare a credere in noi, adottandoci dopo averci conosciuto: i bilanci e tutti i documenti, sono a vostra disposizione.Siamo piccoli, ma grazie alla vostra generosità facciamo e faremo grandi cose! Un abbraccio e che sia un anno di pace.

We did the math. And we tell you, in total transparency, as usual. In 2020, despite the crisis, we raised over 46,000 euros and donated over 60,000 (thanks to the surpluses of past years) to 11 projects (5 in DR Congo, 1 in Uganda, 2 in Malawi, 2 in Pakistan, 1 in Naples) + 3 one-offs for Covid19 emergency (2 in Naples, 1 in Congo). From 2017 to today, we have donated 244,389.08 euros (does that seem little?) to restore dignity and hope to orphans, schoolchildren, working children, pygmy and albino communities, young and old. Thanks to thousands of hours of absolute volunteer work we have increased by ten times the 100% of your generous donations, by turning them not only into food, clothes, books, crayons and medical care, but also into hoes, solar panels, salaries, chicken coops, hives, running water , light, sewing and carpentry diplomas. Not only assistance, but micro development projects, to allow them to lead a dignified life in their own community. Miracles? No, we have simply helped you to help. And we thank you, asking you only to continue to believe in us, adopting us after having met us: the financial statements and all the documents are at your disposal. We are small, but thanks to your generosity we do and will do great things! A big hug and may it be a year of peace.

The Covid19 emergency in the first months of 2020 has caused a severe blow to the world economy, particularly affecting the weaker sections of the population. In this period, the Cariello Corbino Foundation felt the moral obligation to support some projects carried out by known and reliable partners with small but significant sums, to allow them to survive. For the transparency that we have taken on as our brand and our pride, we want to be accountable to the donors, specifying that in any case the Italian projects have been covered by donations from the founding members. Here is the list.

Mali, solar panel for orphanage: 500 euros. The solar panel, created by the small Dutch NGO Sopowerful, was necessary to activate the water pump in the Streetwise orphanage in Mali, also ensuring a greater level of hygiene for the children and the community. The results are in this moving video.

Congo, fund for the widows of the Rangers of the Virunga National Park. As reported in our article, on April 24 2020, 12 young rangers and a driver from the Virunga National Park, our partner in our first and main project - Les Gazelles de Silvana - were killed in a gunfight with the rebel militias, a few hundred meters from our orphanage. The CCF decided to donate € 2,000 to the Rangers Widows Fund of the Virunga National Park, whose financial resources have been put in serious crisis by the blockade of tourism ex Covid19.

Italy - Naples - support for needy families and homeless. In Naples, as elsewhere in Italy and around the world, the number of poor families increased during the Covid19 emergency. The Foundation received 250 euros from a founding member, and then donated (100 euros) to a well-known local association that assists poor families, and employed the remaining 150 by purchasing and directly delivering basic necessities to homeless people and families. family members in difficulty. 

Italy - Naples - Panaro Solidale. During the Covid19 emergency, two Neapolitan artists - Pina Andelora and Angelo Picone - lowered the panaro (basket) from their balcony to feed the homeless of the neighborhood with a steaming plate of pasta. Then the same panaro became a container for "who can put, who cannot take", filmed by the media around the world and then replicated in the city and in other parts of Italy as a concrete and metaphorical symbol of hope. The two associations of which Pina and Angelo are presidents - Vico Pazzariello and the Teatrino di Perzechella - which guard the most original and pure soul of the city - risk the closure for the debts accumulated due to blocking of tourist and performance activities ex Covid19. So, by collecting and relaunching their appeal, the Foundation has donated 500 euros, consistent with its Statute which has one of the founding pillars in supporting culture.

We are proud to announce that we just signed an agreement with the UK organization  “SKIP IT Community” to fund-raise for our Congo project “Les Gazelles de Silvana – youth and community center” (we don’t like to call it Orphanage), in Rumanagabo, Nord Kivu Region.

Skip It Community was setup by a group of volunteers working to raise money for malnourished children around the world whilst helping you the donor become a healthier version of you.

The concept is simple: ‘Pause before you indulge and skip a treat to help another’.
Skip a beer, glass of wine, cup of coffee, slice of cake or a treat to make yourself healthier and donate 60p to SKIP IT which will feed a child in return.

Skip It’s first project began raising funds for a community in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and now they will also support our project. Funds are equally divided between each community.

In Pakistan (see picture) the meals will consist of fruit, eggs, bread and a glass of milk on most occasions or food of the equivalent nutritional value on other occasions.  In the Democratic Republic of the Congo meals for the 65 children are mostly made up of beans and rice or potatoes. These are cooked with tomatoes and onions. Green vegetables or avocado are also included. Our organization has also built a hen-house that provides the kids with about 10 eggs a day and it’s building a larger one.

In Rawalpindi, Skip It Community is partnered with registered charity Support Children – Society to Uphold Protect and Promote the Rights of Children. Support children was conceived and established in august 2002, with the aim to provide relief and hope to the socially vulnerable and less fortunate children from down-trodden families living in slums in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Based on the conviction that today’s Children are tomorrow’s leaders, Support children is committed to bring a constructive change and perpetual hope into the lives of disadvantaged children by ensuring their physical, mental, social and spiritual development and empowering their families. Support believes in sustainable development, working with communities rather than working for them and most importantly laying emphasis on embossing the existing resources within the communities.

All we do is trying to give back to children the rights to childhood that people’s gree have taken away from them.
And now the Skip it PayPal button will make it easier.

We might be only drops in the ocean, but there’s only one thing we know for sure: the oceans is made of drops! So we don’t care if, according to the European Commission, the Fondazione Cariello Corbino, chosed to work in the area with the largest humanitarian crisis of the planet: the Democratic Republic Of Congo.

According to the “EC – European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations report” – 12 January 2018 update,  “2017 was one of the most violent years in DRC’s recent history, with ongoing conflict in the Kivu region, renewed fighting inTanganyika and a new and brutal conflict in Kasaï. The number of Congolese forced to flee from their homes has reached 3.9 million, the highest number of internally displaced people in Africa. In July 2017, the EU released €5 million in emergency aid for the victims of violence in DRC’s Kasaï region”.

“What are the needs?
Comparable in size to western Europe, DRC is one of the world’s poorest countries despite its vast natural resources. DRC’s complex humanitarian crisis is characterised by conflict, mass displacement, malnutrition and epidemics. In addition to millions of displaced people, DRC hosts over 526 236 refugees from neighbouring countries.
Kivus and Ituri provinces have been the scene of fighting for over two decades. More recently violent clashes have erupted in the Tanganyika and Kasaï provinces. The UN has warned that in Kasaï alone 3.2 million people urgently need food assistance and 250 000 children could starve without nutritional help. Stepping up aid to the victims of this one-year old conflict is a humanitarian imperative in this region which was already extremely fragile before the crisis. In Kivus and Tanganyika, regular flare-ups of ethnic tension, violence and arbitrary killings continue to cause untold suffering.
Millions of displaced Congolese are in need of shelter, water, food assistance, nutrition, health care and education. Due to extreme poverty and a crumbling health care system, DRC’s population is highly vulnerable to acute malnutrition and disease outbreaks such as cholera and Ebola. In 2016, 14 million malaria cases were recorded and 1.9 million under-fives are expected to suffer from severe malnutrition in the course of 2017″.

The Fondazione Cariello Corbino is trying to save and change the lives of “only” 64 orphans in Nord Kivu and again we stand tall and repeat “we might be only drops in the ocean, but there’s only one thing we know for sure: the oceans is made of drops!”