A welcome round

This year, our "Life for Children" program experienced something new: for the first time, we opened our doors to two families from Uzbekistan who had undertaken a long journey to give their little ones a chance at treatment and a better life. We met smiling but also fearful faces: mothers and children who left their homes, fathers, and families to face an uncertain time, thousands of kilometers away.

Among them is Shoira, a special little sister, who accompanied her older brother and will be the bone marrow donor when the time comes for the transplant. Welcoming these families truly means becoming one big extended family. Thanks to the invaluable help of volunteers, we tried to make them feel at home, accompanying them on moments of relaxation and discovery: trips to the beach and the mountains, museum visits, afternoons of games and snacks together. With the arrival of September, a new adventure began: starting school. For the two children in treatment, who cannot attend in person due to their therapies, teachers from the Pecetto school and the hospital school stepped in to ensure continuity of study and support in learning Italian, a language completely new to them.

For Shoira, however, entering the classroom was a momentous occasion. After a few days of waiting for the paperwork, we were able to enroll her in Pecetto elementary school, where she received a wonderful welcome. The teacher was waiting for us one afternoon, along with her mother, to visit the school and get to know us. You can imagine her excitement when, crossing the threshold, she saw so many colorful decorations with hearts and rainbows on the windows, welcoming drawings with her name.

In class, Shoira was greeted by a circle of children who sang her a welcome song, also excited for this new classmate from another part of the world. She also met Cecilia, a friend from home who attends the same class, among the other children.

So, between awkward English and shy glances full of affection and curiosity, I leave Shoira in the embrace of her new friends and classmates. Today she learned that you can feel at home even thousands of miles away, thanks to the kindness that children learn to share without fear... More and more, I've come to believe that this is truly a concrete step toward peace.

The next day, Shoira asks us for some red cards to make hearts to leave with each classmate to thank them for their welcome. This is the second step; let's imagine the third, the fourth... the hundredth!

The Sermig Brotherhood in Pecetto
Elisabetta Germak
NP November 2025