A project is born in the city of the Muretto that brings together Rwandan and Italian children and that will lead to a new important cultural exchange. The main purpose is to stimulate young people to move beyond their physical and mental borders, becoming aware of new realities only geographically distant. And the basic concept is: “The pride of each country passes through the young, the new generations who come to life”. In Alassio, some young people wanted to meet in an association, the AGA Associazione Giovani Alassio, supported by Barbara Testa who knows the African country. The Alassio Youth Association has decided to start a cultural exchange with the children of Rwanda which will be visible thanks to the possibility given by the municipal administration to participate in a market of De.Co products in the central Piazza Matteotti.
In Rwanda, other young people wanted to take over some coffee plantations that were about to be abandoned by local farmers. A priceless heritage of local culture and history would have been lost. So these guys, just over a dozen, all in their thirties and graduates, some with masters and all already at work, decided to dedicate their free time to the coffee that grows on Mount Huye, in southern Rwanda, to cultivate the land and see their efforts rewarded. The leader of the “Inshuti za Kawa” (Amici del Caffè) cooperative is Damien, a sort of mentor and “uncle”, with a great deal of experience in the coffee sector and sustainable agriculture. Young people meet with him to learn everything you need to know about coffee and crops. Damien passed his knowledge on to them, who treasured it. Together with him also Mrs. Juliette Uwineza, Italian Rwandan, who supports the children with practical advice and first of all listening to their needs. Recently another Italian has also approached the project, it is Barbara Testa.
“The Alassio Youth Association is proud to be the promoter of this cultural exchange with the children of Rwanda, who represent for us a real example of valorisation of the territory and traditions. These are the values that prompted us to welcome Barbara Testa’s proposal with enthusiasm and that push us to commit ourselves to make our contribution to the community. Principles that know no boundaries and that must be shared and learned also, and above all, by cultures other than ours ”, say the Aga boys.
Today in Alassio there is Mrs. Uwineza as well as Joel Arusha, president of the cooperative “Inshuti za Kawa” or “Amici del Caffè”. To give prestige to the initiative that we present is the Pasqualini roasting company, a leading company in the coffee and cafeteria sector based in Cisano sul Neva, involved in the project and which immediately joined with enthusiasm starting a collaboration that will last and strengthen in the weather. The patronage of the Municipality of Alassio is very important and has welcomed this project positively, giving even more prestige to what is being done. From today this cultural exchange will be visible to all thanks to the possibility given by the municipal administration to participate in the market of De.Co products in the central Piazza Matteotti.