UPDATE: GoFundMe FOR SIMONE DE MAGISTRIS SCHOOL, CALDEROLA, ITALY

In the March 2018, we were made aware of a young Italian student who was studying in Virginia and who had organized a GoFundMe project to help an earthquake-ravaged school in Le Marche. We want to provide you an update on the project and to let you know that if you contributed, your donation was well spent. This past winter, Matteo Ferramondo, an Italian student at the George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Virginia and his team mate, Gianmarco Starke, created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for students of Calderola, Italy. The Simone De Magistris middle school, located in Le Marche region of Italy, was severely affected by the 2016 earthquakes. Much of the original school is still inaccessible, the student life still disrupted and many of the students continue to suffer from anxiety and loss of hope. Matteo visited the school in October and the news is uplifting. While the school is still being rebuilt, the students are having classes in a make-shift warehouse. School is in session, the classes are full, and extra-curricular activities are in full swing. The students are ready to tackle another school year and Matteo’s GoFundMe account raised more than $1,174 which was spent to purchase sporting equipment for the gym and English books for the school library. The equipment and books benefited about 150 students. Among the sports gear are vests, goal nets, numerous soccer balls, volleyballs, and basketballs, gym equipment, and books, such as “Scholastic First Biographies: President Pack” and “Wonder” by R. J. Palacio. Matteo reports, “During my visit to the temporary school building, the 7th grade class was in the gym using the soccer vests we donated. The 6th graders were reading from the English books we donated, and I was able to visit with the students and tell them about our project. He adds, “for me, this visit wasn’t just the end of the project, but also a first-hand experience on what are the consequences of an earthquake and how, even after 2 years, there is so much work left to do.” Many of you contributed to the project. Here is proof that your donations were well spent and that they are making many students happy. Fabiola Scagnetti, Director of the Simone De Magistris school wrote to Matteo “…the students enjoyed meeting you. In addition to demonstrating a good example of community engagement, it also encourages the children of Caldarola to have hope in their future.” The newly rebuilt school is scheduled to open in January 2019. Here are some pictures documenting the happy students at the Simone De Magistris school.