Palermo, Italy [ADRA; CD EUDNews]. In July the Adventist Church in Palermo hosted a graduation party for students who completed an Italian language course. The program that began on Nov. 13, 2012, and lasted 90 hours, was intended to give pupils, most of which come from Ghana basic understanding of the Italian language.
"There were a veriety of reasons which led these students to participate: some wanted to improve their Italian as to be elegeble for a residence permit, others to apply for Italian citizenship, and still others to find a job and integrate better into society. The course was well attended. With 7 students attending consistantly and 10 others due to preveous work commitments were a bit less continuous" said Sara, an ADRA volunteer/tutor.
Alessia, another ADRA volunteer wishes to thank the teachers of FCEI (Italian Federation of Evangelical Churches) that helped make this project a reality "...but we especially want to thank our "graduates", which despite fatigue due to work and family commitments always made themselves available, being eager to learn and enabled us to learn very interesting and stimulating aspects of their culture."
ADRA Italia's primary objective when aiding foreigners is to provide ongoing support in the difficult process of cultural integration and civic inclusion. We hope that programs like these will be encouraged and become a reality in all those places where the need arises. And that our work may be helpful for those who experience difficulties or loneliness far from their loved ones.