3rd edition of the initiative promoted by the Volunteer Association “My Special Friend”
From:
Dante Tangianu
For the third consecutive year, the event took place last Saturday in Alghero “Autism goes to destination”. The terrain is that of solidarity, under the banner of a theme, autism, in the face of which terms such as sensitivity, altruism and closeness towards each other must find a constant residence in the heart and spirit of each of us.
Not that this isn’t already happening, but there is still and always will be so much to do. In a society with frenetic and anxious races against time, too often we do not stop to look around at what is happening to those less fortunate than us. We welcome, then, initiatives aimed at attracting attention, solidarity and, from an ethical-moral point of view, the same responsibility which cannot only belong to public institutions or voluntary associations, but also to ordinary citizens, in virtue of the enormous value linked to every action they take to help those in need of help or even a simple but beneficial relationship with others.
Well, last Saturday, on the green lawn of the Maria Pia rugby field, again this year in a scenario of rare vitality, a program was strongly supported by the Ogert Paco couple (historic player of Amatori Rugby Alghero and creator of the event) and Doriana Caria, sunny parents of an autistic child.
Doriana she is also the president of the Volunteer Association “My Special Friend” and in this capacity he encouraged extraordinary sharing and support for the initiative on the part of many other voluntary associations and sports clubs, as well as the patronage of public bodies and private partners, such as the Municipality of Alghero, the Alghero Foundation, the Province of Sassari and the Region of Sardinia, Sogeaal Alghero Airport, together with the precious support of Amatori Rugby Alghero.
Therefore, on the rugby field set up for the exceptional occasion, there was absolutely everyone, from civil and military institutions to ordinary citizens, many and of all ages. The impression was that for a moment Alghero had stopped, to begin, on a day with clear skies and adorned with an infinite number of blue balloons, precisely by the children, all celebrating and made happy by the activities prepared for them by the adults and that is, by parents, teachers and all the organizations present.
For the municipal administration, the mayor of Alghero, Mario Conoci, and the deputy mayor, Maria Grazia Salaris, participated in the event. Among the military authorities present, the Commander of the “Sassari” Brigade, General Stefano Messina (video below), the Fanfare of the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment of the same Brigade, representatives of the Carabinieri, the State Police, the Guardia di Finanza, the Fire Brigade and the Local Police.
A special station, as bright as the day itself, was that of Rdr Sardinia (video below), a social inclusion radio – wanted and curated by Anna Chiara Achilli And Rita Mele, both representatives of the magazine – which features young people with disabilities as protagonists. In particular, for hours, tirelessly, our splendid reporters were Monica Mura and Simone Mele, who asked countless and also curious and nice questions to well-known and less well-known interviewees.
The soundtrack of the entire day was entrusted to a varied musical presence, bearer of great enthusiasm and ancient values. The notes of the anthem of the “Sassari” Brigade, Dimoniostogether with the national anthem and other pieces performed by the aforementioned Fanfare, directed by First Graduate Massimo Pia, found a warm welcome.
Just as the songs – also presented on stage by Romano Marcias and Manuel Carboni – of the students of the “Maria Carta” middle school were appreciated and applauded (a song accompanied with images of Augmentative Alternative Communication “CAA” linked to autism), those of the pupils of the 5th B of the “Sacred Heart” primary school with sign language (LIS), all directed by their respective teachers.
This was followed by highly applauded performances by singer Kya Carboni and Baby Dance ICHNU ASD.
The presence of the Association of is of great empathic and social importance clown therapy of Sassari, part of VIP(Viviamo In Positivo) Italia ODV
Many activities and workshops, starting from the early morning, with the sports associations and clubs (Rugby, Football, Baseball, Basketball, Taekwondo, Judo). There was also the baptism of the saddle with the “Il Grifone” riding school in Guillot.
The Free Information Desk of the “Liberamente” Center and of the child neuropsychiatrist Dr. Giorgio Gaspa was a very useful reference.
The “Giochedù” activities (You learn more by playing) with Eleonora Cattogno and the psychotherapist Maria Giovanna Monte were followed with great interest.
The stand of the “Sassari” Brigade was very crowded, with children and teenagers celebrating and posing on the vehicles and together with the soldiers for a souvenir photo of a special day.
Man’s true joy is when he himself sees his fellow men, especially the weakest and less fortunate ones, smile at life. This is not yet the case for all men, but it is in this direction – in the opposite direction there is also the hidden, or in any case denied, unhappiness of those who also emerge victorious from incomprehensible conflicts or wars which they have culpably caused – illuminated by the images of the heart and soul last Saturday in Alghero, that the world and all the people of the planet must move.
If this is the perspective of the present, a “new humanism” must find a permanent home in the home of each of us, the only value that can ensure the social inclusion of those who need the other.
Here too, this year, with the 3rd edition of “Autism goes to the goal”, the desired goal was reached, the goal, in fact, the one which saw, in a meeting of extraordinary significance, a sea of people , in an entire day, to celebrate the flag of solidarity. “A rugby field”, reads a statement from the association “My Special Friend”, “it can contain, united all together, dreams and new goals, almost forming a mix and, first of all, making sport accessible to everyone, especially to children who have difficulties”.
In the video below, Doriana Caria, president of the association “Il Mio Amico Speciale”
Photo below: RDR Sardinia
