Ghanzi, 28th August 2005

Dear friends of the Kalahari,

10 weeks have already passed since my arrival in the Kalahari Desert and I am about leaving for Italy. I feel like seeing my children and grandchildren again. I am very tired and I need to rest for some days.

Everything is rather fine at the foster home.

Our Day-Care Centre welcomes more and more children each day, but sadly we cannot accept all children because our little bus is complete.

All these kids need to be cared for: they are hungry, poor and some of them even ill. The longer I stay with them, the more I love them as if they were my own children. Some start telling me something about their past, other do not unburden themselves and look sad. I get additional information from relatives or acquaintances:

I can make up the puzzles of their lives piece after piece, so that I can understand their reactions and behaviours much better. Each one of them has his/her own burden and I try to understand and help them concretely. Some children are making great progress, while others are almost still at their starting point. I know it takes some time, progresses can be reached slowly, but I wish I could see them all healthy and serene.

We are getting busier and busier, I have to understand how to spare my force, as I am no more young!!!

However, I love these children from the bottom of my heart, it is for them that we all have engaged: THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am sure that we can grant a better future to many children with all the love and support of the people believing in our project.

AIDS keeps on killing people: 10% of Botswana’s total population are orphaned!!

The staff is rather helpful, but I always have to encourage them, otherwise things would not go as smoothly as they are supposed to.

Best regards and thank you for everything,

Cecilia