On December 11th, at Università Cattolica, we listened to stories that don’t end with a journey. Because when you return from Uganda, the encounter continues.
Twenty-five years ago, Fondazione Italia Uganda was born, but our path began much earlier, in 1964, when Father Giovanni “John” Scalabrini arrived in Awach and chose to stay by the side of those who had nothing. Since then, his way of doing mission has remained unchanged; it continues through a concrete presence, daily work, trust in people, and focus on the youth, so that the community can become strong and self-sufficient.
On December 11th, at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, we celebrated this anniversary in the most authentic way: through the stories of those who experienced that presence firsthand. The event, born from a collaboration with Università Cattolica that has lasted since 2009 — thanks to the Charity Work Program — featured students and university staff who took part in an international volunteering experience in Kampala, entering the very places where Father John’s mission continues every day.
Following the opening remarks by Professor Claudia Rotondi and Antonella Cassano, the meeting continued with an introduction to the testimonials and the direct accounts of the volunteers. The dialogue and discussion were moderated by Jane Galmarini, Member of the Board of Fondazione Italia Uganda, who guided the sequence of speeches and the exchange with the audience.
The heart of the meeting was dedicated to the volunteers’ testimonials: different stories, united by the desire to share an experience capable of leaving a profound mark.
Laura, a 2023 volunteer, shared her work at the BCK Primary school, where she led a workshop on emotions. “I left with the hope of being able to lend them a hand,” she shared, “and they gave me back so much more.” In her memories remain the glances, the hugs, and a daily life capable of filling the heart and lightening the mind. A bond that continues today through the long-distance sponsorship of a young girl she met during her service.
Fabio, among the first volunteers of the Charity Work Program PTA, brought a different but equally significant testimony: one of a volunteering made of practical work, organizational support, and concrete presence. From the community garden to the workshops, and the cleanup of the slums, his experience showed how every skill can become a service when offered with an authentic spirit.
Riccardo and Maria Francesca, 2025 volunteers, spoke about the value of working alongside the local staff, sharing daily tasks and, above all, building deep relationships. Integrating into the community, learning to look at the world from another perspective, and allowing oneself to be transformed by the encounter: an experience that touched all areas of the Foundation’s work, but most importantly, its people.
Particularly moving was the testimony of Flavia, a Primary Education student, who experienced her time in Uganda as a suspended moment, “like being inside a dream.” Her workshop on dreams, created with the children of BCK Primary, became a space for listening and shared imagination. Flavia shared that she left with the idea of encountering simple desires, only to discover great, profound, and ambitious dreams that taught her how, even in contexts of extreme poverty, desires can be strong, clear, and deeply life-oriented. Upon her return, her suitcases were lighter, but her heart was full of faces, gestures, words, faith, and gratitude: a treasure impossible to leave behind.
These stories remind us why Father John’s work is still so relevant today: because it focuses on what truly sustains a community. Children, school, health, and the opportunity to learn a trade. Thousands of boys and girls study at the Bishop Cipriano Kihangire schools, and the Benedict Medical Centre is a vital resource for the community of Luzira and the Nakawa area.
During the discussion with the audience, a key question naturally arose: how do you continue, once you are back? The answers did not speak of heroic gestures, but of daily responsibility. More conscious choices. Attention to others. Small, repeated acts that, put together, build change.
Our thanks to Università Cattolica, the University Centre for International Solidarity (CeSI), the volunteers, and everyone who made all of this possible.
The journey continues.