Lampedusa: An experience of sharing

“The guests arrived soaking wet and most of them were barefoot. A relationship of empathy and gratitude was immediately created between us. They excused themselves for everything: the traffic they caused, the queues in the supermarkets and bakeries…”

“This situation has led to a true community experience over the last number of months. Everyone is doing their part to generously help these brothers and sisters with clothes, food, etc.”

The experience is characterised by concrete acts of solidarity: “In the days previous to the disembarkments my bag with all its contents, including my cell phone, was stolen. I bought another phone and, before taking it out of its box, I met a young Tunisian man whose cell phone didn’t work. He told me, ‘My mum is desperate because she hasn’t received any news from me’. My new cell phone came to mind. ‘He needs it’, I thought and decided to give it to him. He was truly happy and soon after managed to contact his mum.

A few days after the emergency situation began, the Young People for a United World along with other members of Focolare’s local community in Sicily and in collaboration with the Agrigento Caritas Centre sent a container full of clothes and primary needs to Lampedusa

After this first stage of great dedication, a certain discouragement began to spread through the island’s native inhabitants; an understandable reaction when 90% of the population live off tourism. “Certain that God will not abandon us nor let himself be out-matched in generosity, we tried to sustain all those around us encouraging each other not to be overwhelmed by worries for the future”.

The local bishop of Agrigento, Mons. Montenegro, invited everyone to see the face of Jesus in these brothers, recalling the Gospel excerpt: “when I was hungry… when I was a stranger...” He wrote to the President of the Republic and local authorities immediately started to step in. Everyone felt a great joy and a true sense of having received more than they gave. It was an amazing experience and it still continues: some families fostered a child for a period, others opened their doors at meals times or offered the possibility to use their showers, not to mention donations of food and money. The local fishermen gave crates of fish that the guests roasted on makeshift barbeques.

This communion of experiences and of material goods is continuing and is spreading throughout Italy.