I remember very well CELIM’s 60th birthday party. It was a great thrill to get together in Milan with various colleagues and those who, no longer working for CELIM, still remained close to the organization. At one point we were asked to express in one word, by writing it on a piece of paper, the feeling we had about CELIM: I remember that the word I wrote was “family.” We hung the sheets on a string around the gazebo where we were hosted at David’s house. I recently saw that paper during one of the countless moves I made….

Now I am no longer an “expatriate” due to family choices (the one not working) I have returned to Italy after almost 20 years spent with CELIM: as chance would have it, I now find myself working in the offices alongside CELIM thus having the pleasure of meeting former colleagues often.

Long journey of my life the one spent with CELIM: work, commitment, successes, difficulties: much of it in the book of memories. I also carry with me an important honor received from the President of the Republic, Cavaliere della Stella d’Italia, earned for constant commitment to the solidarity and development of the Zambian people. Indeed, I have always strived to give my best to be able to make sure that the activities implemented by CELIM were understood and appreciated by those who benefited from them in a way that made them sustainable.

Indeed, it is easy to start a new activity having the resources of the project available; much more complex to make sure that these continue after the end. If we are to put the effort and resources to good use, an ongoing effort to involve the institutions whose mandate is to provide the support that is instead temporarily offered by the project is a must. Representatives of the institutions we work with too often delegate responsibility to those implementing the projects. The beneficiaries themselves are sometimes not fully aware and empowered about the proposed development plan.

I therefore wish that for the next 70 years CELIM will continue its journey alongside those most in need, bearing witness to the values of solidarity in the professionalism that has distinguished us over so many years and with the ability to involve partners and beneficiaries so that they become leading actors in their future.

Gianclaudio Bizzotto
Zambia