In the Town Hall, the Saharawi children hosted in Modena.

Mayor Mezzetti received them and thanked the associations involved: "It is necessary to resume the political initiative for the self-determination of these people."

On the afternoon of Friday 19 July, in the City Council room, twelve Sahrawi girls and boys met the mayor Massimo Mezzetti together with representatives of some city associations: Aseop, Arci, Avis, Fiab and Associazione di solidarità con the Sahrawi people “Kabara Lagdaf”.

The visit is part of the “Little Ambassadors of Peace” initiative and is part of the traditional summer welcome in Modena by the network built by the Municipality and other Municipalities of the Province as well as the Emilia-Romagna Region, all entities that support the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people.

Ten children, six boys and four girls aged nine, arrived in Italy on 8 July from the Saharawi refugee camp in Tindouf, Algeria, and are guests of the Association for Solidarity with the Saharawi People “Kabara Lagdaf”. Two others are in Modena for medical treatment, accompanied by their mothers, and are at “Casa di Fausta” thanks to the collaboration with Aseop.

During their stay, a seaside vacation is planned, with Auser Ravenna, and other institutional meetings in the municipalities of Modena. In addition to medical visits and, if necessary, more thorough checks thanks to the health card issued by the Emilia-Romagna Region, they will be able to carry out many activities, from trips in the area to painting and clay workshops to lessons with Fiab to fix bicycles and learn road signs. The departure for Algeria will be on August 21st.

“I have supported the reception of Sahrawi children for several years and I never expected to do so as mayor – said Massimo Mezzetti speaking to the young guests and representatives of the associations – cultural exchange and hospitality are important but equally important is resuming the political initiative on the topic of self-determination of the Saharawi people because, after several decades, the time has come to give an answer. This is why I am committed to supporting the agenda on the recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic because the more local authorities do so, the stronger the voice we will put forward".

The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts involving the mayor and the children.

Since 1995, the Municipality of Modena has been attentive to the cause of the Saharawi people. In March 1997 and then in 2006, following an institutional mission that took place in the Saharawi territories, the friendship pact between the Municipality of Modena and the “daira” of Edchera, in the Province of El Aayun, was formalized.

Originally from Western Sahara, since 1975 the Sahrawis have been forced to live in the territories occupied by the kingdom of Morocco, which does not recognize their independence, and in refugee camps set up in the Algerian desert.