Augurusa, an organization worth considering
TORONTO – About ten days ago, we received a request to meet with the CEO of the Augurusa Foundation (Italy) and a couple of members. They were sojourning in Toronto on their way back to Italy as part of their introductory tour in North America, but primarily New York and Boston where they have associates and relatives.
What tweaked our interest was their vision statement and methodology for execution dependent on “hands-on” approaches to skills development for the access challenged, often disadvantaged children today. The foundation came into being as part of an effort to realize the dream of Antonio Emanuele, brother of the CEO, whose life was cut short during a game of soccer, in 1998, when a corroded steel goalpost and crossbar fell on him.
Twelve years later, the Foundation embarked on a trajectory to put together a programme that would break down the walls between ideals and reality (consult their site Augurusa Foundation, here). From a North America perspective, they cover all the ideological, pedagogical, industrial and social/community pillars that normally impact on such lofty goals, including the financing and political considerations or interested parties.
They come equipped with an impressive list of bona fides, supporters and testimonials. In our environment where education seems to have drifted away from the lofty goals of reading, ‘riting and ’rithmetic, this is an initiative worth exploring. We agreed to an exploratory initial meeting, as did several other “institutions” of a socio/cultural/educational background.
We will not speak for others, but it is fair to say we were sufficiently impressed to do agree follow ups when time constraints will not stand in the way of joint planning.
In the pics: Francesco Augurusa, Maria Makarova and Arianna Innocenzi at the editorial office with the Honourable Joe Volpe, Publisher of Corriere Canadese, and the newspaper’s staff (photos: Corriere Canadese)
