Hooray for another blog post! This one is based on a diversity event that I attended entitled “Traveling Mercies in Afghanistan, Kenya Haiti and Mexico.” The speaker Aldo Magazzeni expressed what he has done to help many communities. Aldo Magazzeni has spent ten years organizing volunteer community service projects which consisted of building wells and water systems around the world through his nonprofit company called Traveling Mercies. Expressing in his speech that “I am where I am today because of my experiences.”
Mr. Magazzeni was born in Italy and having a poor family is what gave him the urge to help others. His work as an activist came about from mountain climbing, which introduced him to small communities. In order to pay for the needed supplies to help these communities, Aldo Magazzeni raised money and sold his BMW! He first started working in Philadelphia with juveniles and gangs in hopes to decrease violence.
Since beginning his “Road to Activism” he has installed fourteen systems in both rural, and inner cities between 2003 and 2009. A water system in Kenya supplied 1,000 orphans, 800 of which are HIV positive. This well also supplied 500 acres of farm land with water. Water systems were installed in day care centers, safe shelters for women and children, schools, and men and women jails in Afghanistan. As well as installing water catchers for school buildings in Mexico. All of these resulted in the creation of his business: Champion Fasteners Inc.
In conclusion, Aldo Magazzeni left me with many inspirational words. “I want world peace rather than just giving money to big agencies,” was one of my favorite statements and I am sure we can all agree with it. I hope that when I begin to grow “old” I will have a strong passion for wanting to serve my community, and others as well, in order to make things for them better!
- Kizzie Ryerson
No comments:
Post a Comment