Francesco Paolo, a Student with a Dream to Defend Children
His collaborative spirit is typical of those attending university, and his innovative approach is common in digitalized millennials. But more importantly, he has the determination of someone who knows what he wants from life: "I'd like to become an attorney for Save the Children, with the task of travelling around the world in order to pressure local governments to support laws which protect children". This is Francesco Paolo Russi, born in Bari, and a third-year law student at Bocconi. "When I first started attending university, I joined Students for Humanity, a student association of volunteers which promotes social development. Today I am the director of the Working for Wasa project, which operates in the health and education sectors in Tanzania".
Every summer for three years now, Francesco Paolo Russi goes to Wasa with the aim to assist this village in becoming independent through a carpentry and woodworking school which teaches a profession to about twenty local youth, ranging in age from 13 to 18. The entire program is financed by funds gathered by the association, and each year "we offer a 600 euro scholarship to the most deserving student, which allows him or her to continue studying at the St. James Secondary School in Kilolo, which we chose from the ten best schools in the area". But that's not all – the project also pays for the 2,000-euro salaries of two teachers working in the structure, and provides textbooks for all the students. Being present in the field is crucial for fundraising, because it guarantees that goals are reached, and contributes to creating a sense of community in the village: "We volunteers spend our days there with children, teenagers, and their families. During the summer we establish relationships with the village members, and those relationships continue to be cultivated, year after year. The biggest thrill is to return to the community and hear people calling out your name. My Africa is, in fact, in the smiles and hugs of those children. What these people give me is extraordinary, and that inspires me to always try and do better".
Valuable human capital is what makes a difference, and this is why the association is always looking for Italian or foreign students who want to gain in-the-field, volunteer experience. "Sometimes, when necessary, we offer economic aid to volunteers who cannot afford the trip. We don't ask for membership fees, but we do ask that people maintain consistent commitments over the years, because that's what enables us to complete our projects".