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.