“Sant’Egidio has built a bridge to bring you to Italy and to reunite many families who had separated due to the great difficulties that have hit your country”. This was said by the founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Andrea Riccardi, who this afternoon welcomed the 191 Afghan refugees who arrived yesterday in Rome from Pakistan thanks to the humanitarian corridors promoted by the Italian Episcopal Conference (through Italian Caritas), the Community of Sant’Egidio, Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, Tavola Valdese, Arci, in agreement with the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs. “You are a proud people, of great culture and humanity – continued Riccardi – but unfortunately they have stolen your freedom, that freedom that many had begun to enjoy: women, going to school and working; men, studying and following their own ideas and passions. We know that some countries had proposed this freedom to you, but all this ended up due to political decisions and the world has forgotten Afghanistan a bit.” “Now you are free to build your future and follow a new path: first of all by learning Italian, being responsible for your families and integrating into this country,” concluded the founder of Sant’Egidio. With these words, on behalf of everyone, Fatema, a young painter, and Mirvais, who was studying at university in Kabul, spoke about the difficult life of their compatriots who had to leave Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban, but also the desire to start a new life in Italy.
(photo: Sant’Egidio Community)
 to the Afghans welcomed yesterday, “now you are free to build your future and follow a new path”){kind=link}