(ANS – Rome) – On Saturday 2 June, Feast of the Italian Republic, Hon. Laura Boldrini, President of the Chamber of Deputies, visited the Salesian Community at Sacro Cuore in Rome where the Association of Salesians in Social Work is based. The purpose of the Hon. Boldrini’s visit was to meet young volunteers on Civil Service and to take part in the “Feast of the Republic against war”.

The President of the Chamber had taken part earlier in the traditional Military Parade held on the Feast of the Republic. She then wanted to show her support for people engaged in voluntary service, through solidarity movements and civil service. On arrival she was welcomed by Fr Giovanni d’Andrea, president of the Association of Salesians in Social Work and the Federation Scs-Cnos; Francesco Vignarca, coordinator of Controllarmi, the  Italian Network for Disarmament;  Primo Di Blasio, President of the National Conference of Civil Service Associations; and Massimo Paolicelli of the Association of Non-Violent Objectors.

Among the young people present at the meeting, there were also national representatives of the Volunteers for Civil Service on their way back from the Military Parade. Their reason for taking part in it was to draw attention to Civil Service as a form of unarmed and non-violent defence of the Country.

In the course of the meeting, some of the young people who had done Civil Service in Italy or abroad gave their testimony. A young man called Rawanad also spoke. He is of Kurdish origin and was welcomed by the Salesians at Sacro Cuore as part of a Civil Service project on behalf of refugees seeking political asylum.

“You represent the more socially aware members of your generation. You have decided to take an active part in society, working on behalf of disadvantaged people who are the most vulnerable and fragile,” Hon. Boldrini told the young people.

Then she added, “Unfortunately, the media do not recognise the value of the hidden but essential contribution of people engaged in social work. Instead, they are incredibly obsessed with a negative image of the young people who engage in violence or self-harm. Our best young people are never seen on TV, but they are the most idealistic and the most active in the country. They are the real high-fliers.”

Hon. Boldrini also promised to secure more resources for Civil Service. She declared her intention to invite Civil Service volunteers and former volunteers to meetings that will be organized by the Italian Parliament, to give parliamentarians an opportunity to hear at first hand the voice of young people committed to society.

Published 04/06/2013