Intense

​Traveling to developing countries for A Chance In Life is always challenging and eventful. But my latest trip to Rome in June, proved to be just as intense. Here are some highlights:

• On June 23, the boys of our Town in Rome played the final game of a soccer tournament against a team of famous former players. This was a wonderful opportunity for our boys to work together. The event was organized by the United Nation Agency for Refugees. Before and after the event, the boys were interviewed by journalists of local TV and radio stations. What was the final score? Well … the boys lost 4-1 on the field, but they won the love and affection of the many fans at the stadium.
• A Chance In Life was invited to attend a two-day meeting at the Vatican to contribute to a panel discussion on the topic ‘Educating is Forming.’ More than 70 attendees from around the world shared their experience.
• We accompanied Mr. Tim Tynan, CEO of Bank of America Merchant Services and 2018 Man of the Year at our Gala, Mr. Guy Chiarello, President of First Data, and his wife Denise to a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

• Mr. Tynan (pictured above) joined us on a tour of La Repubblica dei Ragazzi and La Città dei Ragazzi, our programs in Italy.
• We attended a meeting at the Institute Youth for Tomorrow, a foundation created by Msgr. Carroll-Abbing in 1969 to study the issues of contemporary youth. Together we planned the production of a booklet on our founder’s philosophical and pedagogical principles. We also planned an event on July 19 to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the passing away of our founder, who died on July 9, 2001.
• Finally, and most importantly, we spent time with the children of our programs. And I am happy to bring back to you their gratitude and love for the chance you are giving them.
  
  

It was definitely an intense week, but as T. S. Eliot once said in one of his poems, “Not the intense moment isolated, with no before and after, but a lifetime burning in every moment.”
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When working to improve the lives of the children in our program, every moment is intense. It is your generosity that fuels the fire that provides a chance in life to so many. Thank you!
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Gabriele