ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO OTTONE ROSAI E ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO MAZZINI Our commitment in solidariety

All started in Florence ( ) in a very beautiful square Piazza della SS. Annunziata, devised by some of the most famous artists of the Renaissance such as Michelozzo, Brunelleschi and Sangallo Our school Ottone Rosai has joined the project Agata Smeralda The students of seven classes have adopted six children of the Brasilian favelas giving two euros a month for their maintenance. It has been a great experience which also the school G. Mazzini of Castelfidardo has decided to share starting from this year.

On the right side of the Basilica, which takes its name from the square, there is the first building in Florence constructed in a Renaissance style. It is called Spedale degli Innocenti, the first orphanage in Europe. It was founded by F.Brunelleschi. Brothers Della Robbia were asked to make glazed ceramics representing infants on the front of the basilica. They are wonderful works of art. During the Renaissance, in a period when it was becoming more and more adorned with monuments, buildings and churches the town of Florence didn’t forget to take care of those most in need, that is to say abandoned children.

Under the loggias of the Spedale you can still see the famous wheel where people could abandon infants anonymously, simply putting them in a hollow which appeared when the wooden wheel was turned. To little infants was given the surname Innocenti, still widespread in Florence today. Agata Smeralda is the name given to the first baby girl who was welcomed in the orphanage on 5th February Agata Smeralda was thus chosen as the name of a Charity Association which has been helping children in need in all countries for over 20 years.

A chain of solidarity... The President of the Project is Ms. Barsi who often comes to visit us to remind us of the importance of solidarity and personal responsibilities. Then we regularly meet Padre Ferdinando a wonderful priest, a brave missionary in Brasil. He gives us news about the children there and tells us about their lives in Brasil. A chain of solidarity has thus been developing through the years connecting our school in Florence with Brasil.