The Oratory of the Ancient Center of Castellammare officially becomes a third sector institution. With this qualification the association will now be able to be accredited to participate in tenders and competitions for social activities and be chosen as the recipient body of the 5xmille. Thanks to the work of the volunteers, coordinated by the manager Massimo Caner, the oratory implements recreational and educational activities, financed entirely by donations from the faithful, aimed at combating school dropout, which is rampant in the districts of the ancient center of Stabia, the area where the ‘oratory.
To celebrate the moment, an event was held on Thursday 2 May on the pitch of the oratory where the Polisportiva Centro Antico – the operating arm of the oratory which refers to the Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Catello and the Parish of the Holy Spirit – for ten years it has been organizing completely free football school courses for all children and young people living in the districts of the historic centre. Participating as special guests were Emmanuele Cuomo, aka Manu Food, a chef from Stabia who is popular on social media, and a representative of the Juve Stabia first team. Stanga, Mosti, Adorante, Meli, Buglio and Romeo entertained themselves by signing autographs and taking photographs with the many who came to the event. At the center is a match between the old glories of the oratory, born between the 70s, 80s and 90s, and the new glories of the 2005 2006 vintage.
“Today’s match symbolizes the continuity that exists between the Salesian oratory, where our activities were previously held, and the present in the ancient center where today we carry out work aimed at recovering young people at risk in the neighbourhood- said Massimo Caner, who added – last year we managed to triumph in the national 7-a-side football championships. This season too we qualified for the national finals and as in 2023 we need financial support to bring the kids to Cesenatico. A lottery will start soon with the proceeds going to finance the school camp for the children of the ancient center and to support the trip to Emilia Romagna. We ask everyone for support by donating 5 per thousand to the oratory, and to those who are available to come and help us with our activities. There is a lot of work to do and we need new volunteers to donate their time.”
Also present at the event were a delegation from Virtus Stabia and the Curva Sud of Juve Stabia, who respectively donated a series of kits to the association and a bag of balls.
“By playing you learn, you change loved ones – declared Don Antonino Gargiulo, deputy parish priest of the Cathedral – for years the Oratory of the Ancient Center has been involved in the area. Now we need your support to carry on our activities. Donating 5 per thousand is not enough, we need volunteers who donate their most precious thing, their time”.
At the end of the event Manu Food prepared a delicious pasta and beans that all the guests tasted: “Today something wonderful happened because when many people get together something beautiful can be done – said Emmanuele Cuomo – Behind this in reality there is a great deal of work done by the many volunteers who dedicate themselves every day to this noble cause which needs, in order to be carried forward, not only financial support, but also many new people to lend a concrete hand”.
