Piera, a resident in Poggio alla Croce
In these last few years a lot has changed
Things were different before, people were simpler
They often came into the centre.
Now they stay at home,
the village is less lived in.
Before we were all concentrated on my shop.
Most of the world,
most of life took place around it.
A place to meet, to understand each other,
maybe argue with different opinions
but still have a dialogue. That was life,
in my view that really was.
Andrea, who conceived the welcoming project
Poggio alla Croce could be defined
as “a small Switzerland”
Located in a beautiful spot
between Chianti and Valdarno
Residents are busy at work
and like to collaborate.
In summer a nice festival is organized
attracting people from both valleys
When problems arise, like with ice in winter,
informations flow over the internet.
Looked like and ideal place
Then in April 2017 the “bomb” went off:
thirty migrants to be hosted in the “palace”,
a former hotel middle of village
It sounded as if a spaceship full
of little black men was about to land
Piera
Black men are coming. Black men are coming.
We are all with our hairs raised,
very worried, me too to be honest because
you hear a lot of good
but also bad about these youngsters
Andrea
The strongest reaction, intense and wide,
was an immediate refusal,
a “belly” reaction that caused
an immediate decision
to collect signatures against,
in less than three days
230 signatures were collected
Even though the Poggio’s residents
are around 190.
Attilia, a teacher in the the school for migrants
A first meeting was held
one and half year ago in summer
before the migrants arrived,
so we did not know them
They had no face for us, they had no name
I don’t live in Poggio alla Croce,
I come from a nearby village
During the meeting there were
some very aggressive people,
I guess they were sincerely scared
Martin, parson of Poggio alla Croce
Their reaction was not due to being bad.
Behind there was also a reality
that must be told. It must be told that
none was pepared because none
had been alerted that these foreigner,
these migrants were coming
Paolo, a resident in Poggio alla Croce
Someone started collecting signatures,
and I agreed only because I wanted to know
where would these kids be hosted,
what did they come for then it became
clear that this was not the reason
they did not want to welcome them
So I said my signature was extorted
and was not in agreement any more
Luana, a resident in Poggio alla Croce
They told us
“in a year time we’ll remind you of this..
we are scared..
I have an 18months old little girl
who won’t be able to walk the streets anymore”
But I refused to sign in
and became the black sheep
Paolo
They are black, and that may be difficult to fathom
Integration is not easy, not easy.
Also on their side
Attilia
There was a bad feeling around,
a terrible atmosphere
My legs trembled, truly.
I recognized kids that I knew
when they were little children.
And now as grown ups they were scared
and said they did not want the migrants
because their life would change,
it would not be possible
anymore to go quietly around in Poggio.
No more walkabouts but they shouted
all this in a really aggressive way..
and I started to tremble and was unable
to tell what I meant,
that I felt very sorry to see children
who had grown up together
accustomed to sharing…and I remember
there were also coloured children
in our classes and they all played together
And now I was frightened
by what they had become
Was more scared of them than
of the coming migrants because
I could sense a rage and violence
that really frightened me
Andrea
When the spaceship
with its little black men finally landed
we managed to organize
a first meeting in a room under
the church that our parson Martin
put at our disposal
for the whole project.
Sitting on chairs in a circle
all mixed up some of us,
some of them, we played a bit.
We sticked a piece of paper on the wall
and each and one of us started to write
“Andrea Formiconi, italian, speaks italian”
Then casually pointed the felt-pen towards
one or the other and they wrote in turn
Each and one of us wrote his name,
which country he came from,
which language he spoke,,,
A simple exercise that opened
a whole world, a universe
because it turned out that with
fourteen-fifteen of them there were
twelve-thrteen languages spoken
That some of them were illiterate,
you could tell by the unlikely way they
brandished the feltpen in their hands,
In fact they did not write but
drew their name. At the same time
some of them attended school
and to one exreme there was one kid
that had escaped while in his fourth year
of Mathematics at university.
This helps understand the enormous
fan of different human stories and situations
hiding behind this stereotype that we call
with just one name: the migrant..
which prompts the image of one
little black man, the same, and his
standard story.
Absolutely not like that !
Malo’, a teacher in the school for mugrants
Three of us that embarked in this adventure
of the “little school of Poggio alla Croce”
without really knowing what to expect.
We felt the urge to do something
to help these youngsters,
and we thought that teaching them
italian language was the thing to do
also to improve their trust in themselves.
As we are scared of them blacks,
they are scared of us whites
They are afraid of us.
The funny thing is that a lot of people
were involved who had nothing .
to do with teaching.
People like Marcie who is canadian
with very little italian but
she taught italian.. and Willy
who is still with us who reads
and does dictation
and anything else with them
I teach in primary schools
on Tuesday when finished
With my class, often very tired like last
year when I taught in first
I sit in the car and say to myself
“why do you do it ?
you should go home to rest or make dinner”
then I close my eyes and think
“if it is the right thing to do I'll find
the missing energies” and there I go
and afterwards I am happy because you get
there and see those smiles with white teeth
and those white teeth of black people
those happy eyes...
I see Ajan, I see Dedo, the Kurds...
waiting for you
who thank you for being there,
who are looking forward
for you to teach them something.
(Car noise...)
I arrived here a bit by chance,
I got to know this experience
thanks to Andreas, his stories
in university classrooms and I decided to
to come and have a look.
The question I get asked most often
is why I'm doing this, especially because
what strikes me about me is the fact
that I come from almost 90 kilometres
almost two hours by car anyway
just to get here.
It's not easy to explain,
because the reason
lies in so many little things:
gestures, looks, emotions,
the feelings you have when
you get in touch with these people
which in the end are lives
are experiences, are worlds
with which you come into contact
and of which you often know nothing.
(Traffic noise...)
(Country noises, chirping...)
(Squeaking bicycle...)
(Background music...)
I go to school in Figline Valdarno
every day, On Mondays and Tuesdays
I go by car but the other days I ride my bike.
I ride my bike. It's not difficult to go,
but it is difficult to return
because it takes an hour and
thirty minutes, It's tiring.
When I was in Africa I didn't go to
school and fortunately I found myself in
Europe and met the people who
are helping me
and enrolled me in school.
My goal is to learn the Italian language
I would like to stay in Italy,
I would like to work to help
my family in Africa. Therefore
I have to concentrate on studying,
it's my goal.
My name is Madou Koulibaly, I come
from Guinea and I'm 20 years old.
I arrived in Italy a year and
two months ago, it was a very
difficult trip, I can't forget it,
It was very dangerous.
I sacrificed my life
to seek my fortune in Europe
and thank God I entered Italy
on 13 June 2018
and I was transferred
to Poggio alla Croce.
I met some very good people who
treated me like one of their own,
they are like my parents here,
not only me but all the Africans
who live in Poggio alla Croce.
I would like to continue studying,
if there is a possibility,
I'd like to study and learn
a job, for example a welder.
(Noise spring water, chirping...)
Italy saved me in the sea,
in Italy I went to school
and I would like to continue studying,
I don't know what will happen afterwards.
Poggio alla Croce is my village.
The path is chaotic,
one cannot expect to follow
a preordained thread:
it would kill this kind of school.
So you have to follow the wind.
An example would be when
Samba had written the curriculum
on the computer,
then of course you try to help:
"Samba, what does this mean?
What's this...?"
Then we read:
"driving experience", so I ask:
"Samba, what did you drive?"
He light up immediately and says
"Cow!"
and a whole other discussion
started from there
about how things change over time,
how they change in Africa,
how they change here.
This is an example of digression.
It's a people-centred school,
essentially.
(Soft music, dialogue in the background..)
We all have attics full of old computers
and we don't know what to do with them.
It's a problem because we have to take them
to the eco-center and so we've been
spreading this information:
"Do you have an old computer?
You don't know what to do with it,
is that a problem for you?
Instead of giving it to the
recycling centre, give it to us,
we install a version the Linux
operating system, a lightweight version
that fits into old computers
and easily "resurrects" them.
The Ubuntu operating system
is so called because it is a concept
from southern Africa and
Nelson Mandela in a beautiful
video that we used
for a work with the students,
describes it with a little story:
"Once upon a time, when a wayfarer
arrived in a village and he was
tired, thirsty and hungry, no one would
ever ask him any question,
they simply brought him something to drink
and food. This is Ubuntu, that is
thinking about the other in the knowledge
that this creates a community
that lives well if we all do that."
Ubuntu is a great African philosophy,
a great African thought...
it's about getting to the help
it starts with the fact that we're all
brothers, if I help one person
that person can help
another person close to me,
therefore a general connection
of society in that we all consider
ourselves brothers and sisters.
What happened in Poggio alla Croce
is Ubuntu, it's definitely
authentic Ubuntu.
(Chorus of African children...)
I think that following a principle
where helping someone will help me
in turn is good for both, better than
fighting with each other,
even though in fight wins may be
happier than the loser.
This principle guides my whole life
since I started reasoning I have always
used the time I had available in social activities.
But not for “goodism”, not because
I am good and consequently must do good,
help others, help beggars, no.
Maybe I am led by selfishness,
I think I earn something this way
and so live a better life, be serene.
You get a lot of rip-offs, but not like
those you get When fighting and losing.
More like opportunities that leave
a bitter taste in our mouth but do not create
big problems. There were racist
symptoms around and that is way
I decided to get involved but basically
it was my way of doing things: I am a migrant
myself in Poggio alla Croce, moving from town
to the country.
I choosed to and almost from start
it was natural to decide joining this association.
It is a way of living, it is normality,
no heroism, I think everybody
can understand this.
When I hear it, the word Ubuntu has an impact
because it means “humanity”.
In jewish religion we have an expression,
“tikkum olam”, that literally means
“fixing the world”.
And I noticed how relationships
developed here; it is really beautiful,
because people one by one are slowly
“fixing the world” and show humanity.
We must concentrate on this positive part
of the world because if we don’t,
if we do nothing, we are doomed to fail.
For me coming here to Poggio is a little thing
but it means a lot in my life.
This idea of Ubuntu, to re-generate computers,
objects tools that were doomed to be
thrown away, is what inspired also
this community to act and slowly
re-generate itself. This is what means
the motto “We need you”
Our local community was re-generated
by your arrival, thanks to your spaceship
with little black men, because it injected
into us a new need to co-hoperate, to leave
our homes and setties, forget about tv,
get out and try to solve together a problem
for the benefit of the whole community.
(words from a malian rap song, music in headphones)
I am Samba and I come from Mali,
I am an artist
But before when I sang with my friends
my family was against me making music,
but I love it.
In 2016 I went first to Algeria then to Libia
Then I arrived here two years ago.
I have a complicated life,
I would like to be an artist
a rapper like many italians (Ghali, Sfera Ebbasta..)
I would like to do what they do
I don’t really know what happened
but we have all changed
I found out they changed in relation to us,
in the begining they would just pass by,
just give us a little smile but when they
realised we really liked them…
I cannot speak for all, but for people like me.
When we see a new one we stop him
with a “ehi”, and if he is tall tell him
to bend down or we can’t reach him, and he
calls us and we say “grandmas and grandpas”
and he replies “grandpa,grandma”,,
We speak italian so we try to make
ourselves understood and when we see
they reaaly don’t understand we gesture
like this..to make them bend down
And so they learn and when they pass
they ask “nonna, need help ?”..
”no, not today, tomorrow”.
Some know some english and so I tell them
“tomorrow” and they understand.
I always said I have No room at home but if
I did I would happily take one in One, two,
depends on how many I could take in
If the house were mine, because in my view
they also need to be understood, to feel
the good not just through a smile. There are
essential things in the life of all, but they
leave their families flee from
very bad systems, suffer hunger.
Maybe we are unable to give them
these things We are just two or three that
are really fond of them straight from our
hearts not from our mouths
And they can feel it, as soon as they see
us they come for a kiss, for some food,
for biscuits, as with a little child that
needs to be taught to speak.
Some we see more often and there is a contact
We spend time but is not wasted time,
it is good time. People who saw us doing
that in the beginning were critical
But now they say “it is true they make
themselves loved, but how did you do it ?”
How ?, well we talk to them!
And soon or later they understand…
Slowly things got more stable.
These kids are very nice
They hurt nobody, they salute everybody,
they pass they call you, we reply,
at least I do, others won’t.
The village is quiet now,
it showed the worst of itself because
misleading informations help produce
bad reactions. Then you learn, you see, you
live and living with them is also nice.
The way I see it, these kids were like jailed
without this group of people that taught
them italian and other things ..
what would they do ? Lock up thirty kids
in a CAS, what for ? For nothing I think,
If they are not made active
what can they do ?
They are all young kids in their twenties….
what can they do ?
If they do something, if it is possible
to make them do something, work, play..
then it is different. They can be useful
but you must train them, let them in,
something impossible to do in two-three months
Then you have to overcome distrust.
Seeing a black man by your side
has some effects. But in the end it means
nothing. If you learn to know him he is
like me after all Even if I don’t know you
we share the same opinion
This is logical I think
The first village I saw after entering Europe
was Poggio alla Croce
I will never forget because they gave
a new life, an unforgettable experience:
the people, the joy, they gave me a respect
for society, from day one when they
took me around to look for a job, to take
the driving licence, to school..
and I thought “look, these people ask
nothing of you, but give you a lot,
a new life..I must give something back”
and thought it would be good to go on
with them, helping them also phisically”
In my life I will never forget this village and
the people who know me as well,
My family,even if not in Italy,
they know Poggio alla Croce!
It is a big joy for them too,and in my view
if they ever meet an italian or european
person they will respect them because
they have given a good thing, a new life
to their son.
In future I would like to help with the school,
I don’t speak italian well but I could help
with the Pakistani who don’t speak english
and have not studied. I could be
an interpreter between them and an italian
explaining the rules and other things.
It would help them but also one way
to give someting back to society, to the village.
You are integrated in this society but now
you are teaching other peopleto integrate in society
so that they can do good new things.
I have a lot to learn still, but people
from Poggio gave me a nice life, something
difficult to explain in words, but I will
always try to give something back to this
unforgettable, beautiful village.
This initiative (the school) helped people
who did not know each other to get in touch,
collaborate, become friends..Not only the migrants
have a school for italian and mathematics
but we all from the village have learnt to mix,
live together and it is much better
Something else I won’t ever forget is
the second day I visited the school, it was
the first birthday of the mythical Duccio,
our mascot. At a point during the mini-buffet
his morher had prepared for us
and the kids they open a little paper bag
and and pull out a little cart made in
coloured wood, obviously home made
as one of those things I could find
in my grandma’s attic. It was made
of wood pieces assembled and with a string
to pull it around on wheels,
really a well done object
It was handmade by them and Duccio
really liked it because among many toys
in the house, fantastic toys that play
a tune, sing a song, shout, Duccio loved
immediately this simple wooden chart,
and he played with it without throwing it
to the ground, as he does with other toys
he keeps in his hands for thirty seconds
then throws them away. Maybe it was
because since he was born me and my
girlfried have tried to integrate Duccio
with these kids, so that he could live
this experience as normal, as if they were
our relatives,our friends,our brothers.
And now when my son sees them he smiles
and goes towards them. He is now
18 months old and is practically
the mascot of the centre. When they
see him they call “Duscio, Duscio..”,
you can tell their face opens up in smile,
and this makes me really happy. I know
it may sound trivial but I want my child
to be a citizen of the world
not just of Poggio alla Croce.
Fantastic, but how does it work Madou ?
You are far away I must try to hit,
I must stay away to hit
Who hits first wins ?
When I cannot hit then it is her turn,
then we go around.
And who hits is the winner ? Yes
(Madou explains in his language
the recipe for bread, oil and salt).
My name is Omar, I come from Senegal.
I have been In Italy for two years now.
I arrived in Poggio alla Croce and
I am happy, I met lots of people,
they teach you some italian and we have
become friends. I go to school also
to learn how to prune, I collected wine
grapes and olives. They helped me find
a good job, and I have found a mother and
a father..I only miss my brothers but
my new parents are Paola and Gabriele,
they are very good people, like everyone
else in Poggio alla Croce.
When a stranger arrives here leaving
his country still has nostalgia. He thinks
where he goes he may be welcome with
a smile. When he is met by refusal is a
very difficult moment, a very sad one.
We are all strangers to some others,
I came here in 2000 Now 19 years have
passed and I have become parson
in Poggio alla Croce.
They make you think as if they have taken
their life destiny in their own hands.
Obviously this transformation is not
just theirs, is probably one of the most
important aspects it is wrong to focus
just on “them”. Things really work
when the context accepts change
This explains the positive reaction of the
population. Starting form our aged
fellow-citizen who may be were terrifed
at the beginning, during those horrible
early meetings… Now they know they can
call on them when the lumberjacks
discharge 10 quintals of wooden logs in
front of the house that have to be taken
into the garden or inside the house, they
can call these “big guys” as they say,
and these kids obviously do the job in ten
minutes, and maybe are offered a cappuccino
or given a little money. This way a normal
way of life was recuperated Healthy normality
that makes a population really civilized.
And among other things this is what really
moves me, the people that are with me
now and who have involved me in this
adventure, two in particular who have
started this adventure, are the same two
who have welcomed me twentysix years
ago whenI arrived in San Polo.
This is important for me, because mine
was a really beautiful experience that
I want to help others,them, to live.
“water is coming, master” “ok”
“theese are three and half kilos” “ yes it is ok
“what is the name of this dish ?” “ Mafe”
“How do you do this dish, just meat,
vegetables ?”
“meat, vegetable, tomatoes peanuts butter”
“how do you do it, you must clean, cut”
“ok kids I let you work, while I look on
and help you”
“what is this white thing ? “ Bantara ?”
“and how do you cook it ? You need
long time “
“in Senegal yes, I don’t know how
to cook it in Europe..”
“the more fresh it is the quicker it cooks,
if old it takes longer”
This kind of Barbiana for migrants
at Villa Viviana in Poggio alla Croce is about
about to close. Today all is silent since
these kids who had brought back some
life to this under-populated village
in the past two years have been obliged
to leave. They went away in haste
without alerting anybody A few of their
things have remained here.
The cooperative Cristoforo which was
running the centre must give up because
with a budget limited to 21 euros
(against 35 as before) per each migrant
they are closing down five centres out
of 17.. and this is only the beginning
because the situation is not financially
sustainable any more.
At Poggio alla Croce, in the neighborough
of Figline e Incisa, some thirty migrants
had arrived among distrust and protest
ff the few people living there..Then
everything changed, many were adopted,
someone decided to set up a school
to teach them italian, but also to cook,
prune olives. A distinctive experience of
integration was born And lived on until
today when they were forced to leave
moving to another centre
in Sesto Fiorentino.
Today was the last day of study in Poggio
alla Croce, it was a school where
foreigners could learn a lot of things it
was the school where we have learnt all
that we need in italian, in english, and
above all some italian culture.
In this moment it is very difficult to go
away from the residents of Poggio alla
Croce, to leave our teachers We are very
sorry but have no choice, there is not
enough words to say how good it was
to live together with you. You must be
proud for what you have done and are still
doing. You have created an incredible story
which cannot be cancelled in our little
village where humanity is respected even
though for some people to live together
with african kids is boring or a sin.
With you it was never like that, always
smiling, only nice words, never bad words
nor distinction against the colour of
our skin. We have been lucky to live
with your one moment in our travelling.
After studying in Poggio we have
understood that each and everyone must own
his destiny. Thank you for having taught
us the right approach how to behave
properly in Europe, how to distance
ourselves from begging and delinquent
behaviours. I will never forget you.
Warm greetings
I think this story of the Scuolina in
Poggio is really a love story. We are fond
between us volunteers, because we spend
time together in a certain way, and the
kids also they are fond of us.
Real friendships were formed.
Our is really a love story.
It is these little gestures, these tales
of daily life that make our experience
rather special. It is what makes you say
“I care for you”. It is the most
precious gift that we can bring home.