“I did what seemed right to me at the time and I would never have imagined, for such a short time, that I would receive such an important recognition.” Seventeen-year-old Valeria Frasca from Forlì is happy and excited, having received the incredible news yesterday: her name is among those of the 29 new ‘Alfieri della Repubblica’, a title conferred by none other than the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, who this year it is particularly inspired by the disasters that struck first Romagna and then Tuscany, bringing with them, in addition to the incalculable damage and the loss of several human lives, also an incredible load of altruism, solidarity and generosity that especially animated young people.
Valeria’s choice is not a rare case, but it does not make it any less valuable. Even though her house was spared from the fury of the water, in fact, she did not hesitate: right from the start she decided that she too wanted to lend a hand. Her father, Cristiano Frasca, is the photographer of the Carlino and hers was one of the very few cars circulating on the road even in the most critical hours of the tragedy. Valeria was with him, but only for a short stretch of the road: she was accompanied to the headquarters of the Inzir club, in via Bezzecca, where a volunteer sorting center had been improvised. The club is located in a strategic position, on the outskirts of the San Benedetto district and the water has only lapped it.
Inside the club Valeria Frasca, together with other volunteers, helped to collect the data of those who proposed to shovel and clean, organizing the groups which were then directed to the neighbourhood: “Many of them called – she says – and not only from Forlì, but from every part of Italy. It was important to coordinate everyone and agree with the other groups so that all that energy was not wasted.” It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. “Organizing everything was actually very complicated, the calls were so many and even more so – he continues – the needs of the people in the neighborhood who were experiencing moments of enormous tension”.
A tough experience which, however, also left a lot behind: “The most beautiful thing was seeing the sense of community and solidarity that animated the people: there was the desire to spend oneself, to do one’s part… There was those who arrived without even a shovel, only with the desire to do their best”. The shovels were then supplied and no one was left behind, so much so that in the first few weeks the greatest needs had been met.
Valeria’s service continued unabated until the schools reopened: “In the evening when I returned home, I was tired, but my heart was swollen because I had seen so many people ready to spend themselves for others”. And now all that hard work has been rewarded by none other than President Mattarella.
