By Regina Asamoah
It was a colourful moment as the navy crew of an Italian Military Ship, Nave Foscari, and members of the Ghana Italian Women Association (GIWA) painted the walls and wards of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa) Home in Ashaiman.
The Missionaries of Charity Home provides a safe place for many children who have been abandoned, exploited, abused, and neglected.
The painting exercise, an initiative by GIWA, was to ensure a facelift of the Charity Home and to provide the children with an opportunity to experience love and care from the association and the Italian Navy.
The crew of the Italian ship Foscari led by their captain, Commander Daniele Inguscio not only painted the Charity Home but also used the opportunity to medically examine some of the children.
Before they visited the Missionaries of Charity Home, the Navy officers accompanied GIWA members paid a familiarization tour to the City of God School and Clinic at Old Fadama, managed by Rev. Father Subash. During the tour, the navy officers donated to the school children and provided medicines for the City of God Clinic.
The City of God School, located in one of the slum communities in Accra, offers free teaching to children from vulnerable homes. The clinic also supports community members to access health care at a subsidized cost.
Speaking in an interview with AmaGhanaOnline.com, the President of the Ghana Italian Women Association, Mrs. Rosaria Leone Baldi, expressed appreciation to Coral Ghana for donating the paint.
She acknowledged the Italian Navy for its continuous dedication to supporting GIWA to impact the lives of Ghanaians. She recalled that in February 2023, Nave Foscari partnered with GIWA to celebrate World Environment Day at St. Bakhita Catholic School in Odumase-Krobo.
According to her, the presence and interaction the Navy crew have with the children is a morale booster for the children’s developmental growth.
Captain of Nave Foscari, Commander Daniele Inguscio, expressed his excitement about partnering with GIWA on impactful projects. He was impressed with the dedication of all officers to use their time during stopovers in Ghana to interact with Ghanaians, especially Children.
He was optimistic that the bond they have established with Ghanaians will forever live on.
