MODENA - Concordia, the provincial road in Mirandola. Homes, schools, churches, cemeteries; the holes in their walls, the cracks and their shattered facades show what happened just over 100 days ago in Emilia. But now there’s another story to tell. The story of arcades supported by scaffolding that will finally be taken down after what seemed to be endless work, of rubble piled along the roads that will slowly disappear, of signs announcing that shops are soon to reopen. Smiles are beginning to return among the wooden structures and prefabricated earthquake-proof structures, the tents and the people living in turmoil who want to return to a normal life, so to speak.
Inter – thanks to the extraordinary fans of various Inter Clubs as well – continue to remain close to the inhabitants of these areas, which recently received a visit from an Inter Channel crew. Together, to provide a voice and an image to the desire to rebuild.
After a day spent in the danger zones and tent cities of Concordia and Finale Emilia, in the company of Inter Channel subscribers and local residents, the message is clear: "When you see bread being sold you get the idea that life is beginning again and continuing," stated the mayor of Concordia, Carlo Marchini, when speaking about the efforts of his citizens. And if one is struck by the images of destruction then at the same time one is struck by the willingness to turn the page.
Business activity and banks did not stop in Concordia and they continue to do their work from containers. The town hall is being housed in a nursery school and the church in a tent. At the end of a summer that has finally started to relent the most urgent need is to now give children places for education and physical activities as Gianni Luppi, a Concordia policeman and Inter Channel subscriber, showed us: "Here we’ll build the new elementary and middle schools since the previous ones we had are now unusable. We should also have a gymnasium but unfortunately only one for both schools. We’re hoping another can be built but we need to find the funds. The elementary and middle schools will resume in October in prefabricated earthquake-proof structures."
We now pass from one town to the next, but the priorities remain the same; in Finale Emilia one of the most important projects is the construction of a nursery school for the youngest children as soon as possible, in order to spark hope and the desire to start again. A project supported by Federlegno but built with the support of many companies and individuals, including lawyer Giorgio Spallone, a Nerazzurri fan, Inter Channel subscriber and citizen of Finale Emilia by birth: "Rebuilding this nursery school in record time is an incredible task, you can’t help but lend a hand."
A hand to transform a tragedy into a new beginning. There are many images, stories and ways to help out. Inter have not forgotten.
Inter Channel’s in-depth report on Concordia and Finale Emilia will be broadcast today at 18:45 and 19:15. Then again on 20 September at 1:45, 9:45, 14:15 and 17:45.
Houses, factories, churches, monuments, and above all men, women and children. Rebuild together with us, Emilia needs your help:
Beneficiary: COORD.EMILIA
Banca Popolare di Milano, Ag 561 Cassano d'Adda
IBAN: IT 10 L 05584 32800 000000000868
Swift/BIC: B P M I I T M 1 5 6 1 (to be used only for bank transfers from abroad)
Reason: "PRO TERREMOTATI EMILIA"
