Good job!

Works and activities are never lacking in Bozoum ... and it's not just because of me!

A meeting keeps me busy all morning on Monday. Unexpected young people have threatened with absurd pretexts NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) present in Bozoum to help us out in various activities. They came with absurd pretexts. What NGOs do it’s rebuild houses in our villages while repairing roads in the city. It’s enough to say that 2,500 people, in turn, have been able to have a job with a salary. On top of this by this method we could decrease a good number of social tensions.

The meeting, attended by NGOs, the Prefect and youth representatives, it was an opportunity to clarify some issues, and also to help young generation for a better understanding of the importance of having a job and training, without getting lost with the idea of easy money. However, it is also a sign of how it is sometimes difficult to be of any help. Not only, but how important it is to give dignity to the needy.  On Monday in Bangui, two people working with Caritas and the Health Commission of the Diocese of Bangui have been kidnapped by antibalaka. The two kidnapped are the Central African Brother Gustave Reosse and Claudia Priest from France. Coincidentally: on the flight back to Central Africa Claudia was next to me on the plane. The kidnapping is the work of antibalaka, confiding to have in exchange the release of a criminal, one of their leaders, who have been arrested just few days ago charged for crimes against humanity .The next day an Iraqi employed with the UN was kidnapped too, but soon released hours later.

Brother Gustave and Claudia on the contrary remained in the hands of the antibalaka. It was the Archbishop of Bangui the one who worked hard in leading the negotiations among many tensions. Finally, Friday 23, were both released. Yesterday morning, for a change, an International Red Cross car was attacked on the road by antibalaka, at 26 km from Bangui. Threatened and robbed of their cellphones and money.   This happened to the Red Cross! And what it’s even worst everything happened in front of the Gendarmes simply doing nothing to prevent it. Bad signs from my point of view: sign that there isn’t safety; sign that the whole security service of UN peacekeepers does not work; among other things, the fact of the abduction of people working clearly for a Catholic organization, should open the eyes of those who continue to speak of antibalaka as "Christian militias". Meanwhile in Bozoum, in addition to the organization of the Agricultural Fair to be held on January 31, we are rearranging the warehouses redoing the roof, on which next month we are going to install a solar panel system, which is a big step forward, allowing us to have power without the use of generators.

On the site http://www.sevasrl.it/index.php/component/content/article/32-africa/101-centrafrica you can find some detail about the new system: “The plant is of 11.2 kW. The project was funded and developed by SEVA with the technical assistance of Kad3Group and the donation of batteries by Vipiemme Solar. The photovoltaic system of Bozum would be operational this March coming, providing electricity to about 2,000 people, besides reducing by approximately 96% of diesel consumption. It provides an annual electricity production of around 18,000 kWh avoiding approximately 9000 kg/yr. of CO2. "    I have to say that all this is made possible by the work of Enrico Massone, who for almost 30 years comes back to RCA in order to help us out. With him there’s Alessio Vada together with our team of builders, and others volunteers like Anonio and Guliano, visiting for a few days, and immediately and generously at work with the paintbrush in hand. 

Good job!