A day like we haven’t seen for years, last night in the Crocetta neighborhood for World Refugee Day. Umanità Migrante, the association created by Anpi which brings together the associations of Cinisello Balsamo, organised, together with the parish of San Pietro Martire, a long event of performances, banquets, exhibitions and screenings which culminated with an immense dinner on a large table without walls.
Many people from all the migrant communities of Cinisello Balsamo, united to celebrate between food and music. Dishes from all over the world, which were brought from home by Italians, Senegalese, Congolese, Afghans, Egyptians, Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Salvadorans and Sri Lankans.
The program started at 4pm with activities dedicated to the children of the neighborhood while the stalls (in particular that of Aice, the African association for integration) and the exhibitions were gradually set up,
Subsequently, at 6 pm, the concert began with Gilbert, a Congolese refugee and Afro-beat musician, who performed with the support of Gaetano Petronio, on guitar. At the end of the performance, the Congolese refugee also recounted his personal experience.
At 7.30 pm, the table without walls started where everyone brought out their own dishes brought from home and, whoever wanted, exchanged them with neighbors or even there were those who went around each community asking for a taste of each dish. You could eat from Afghan to African food through to South American dishes. Naturally, there was no shortage of dishes from our kitchen such as caponata, parmiggiana and pizza.
At 8.30 pm the testimonies and performances of the other countries began. The first was the Salvadoran Julio Paredes who sang both classics from his country and Mexican ones. This was followed by the testimony and performances of the Congolese community which was then followed by the Sri Lanza dances and finally the Ecuadorian community.
After a short break, a video prepared by Umanità Migrante and Emergency was shown on the reality of migrants and, in particular, on the condition of the Palestinian community.
What initially might have seemed like a small party in Largo Milano turned into an event that involved the entire neighborhood and the city (with its migrant communities) with the windows of the buildings wide open through which the citizens of Ciniselle followed with pay attention to what can cause the right integration between fellow citizens.
