STAFF
FEDERICA ORZATI - PRESIDENT
(Florence - Italy)
In 2010 I decided to go to South-East Asia, where I fall in love with the gentle poverty of the countries, especially with the magic Cambodia. I begin to undrrstand how many "voices without sound" exist in the world. People who just survives, pulling a living, People hidden in the darkest corners of the world, which we have barely heard of. So I feel the need to help the people and, when I came back in Italy, I decided to volunteer at the pediatric hospidal of Florence: Meyer. After that I decided to embark in a volunteer trip in Mother Theresa's orphanage in Kolkata, India; and then I continued to travel and volunteering in many countries aound the world. I snatched the positive and negative aspetcs of the various organizations, realizing that I needed to create my own that it was in line with my virtues and pursued my mission.
I can not stay too long far away from my kids, and I continue to look for others who need our help. That's why I planed my life to travel half year, managin my passion in the best way and be always present in the countries to plan donations and activities.
CLAUDIA ZINI - VICE PRESIDENT
(Bologna - Italy)
Ever since I can remeber I have always tried to be a support for people less fortunate than me. The fact I was born in the midst of comforts and love of my family has developed in me the desire to share love and joy with those who who never felt these feelings. So, when I was young, I did many experiences with disabled children, and later I supported many Ngos with sponsorship. But it was still a little, and slowly made in my heart the idea of founding an Ngo with my friend Karine. The idea was to create something in order to be a pratical help for children and abused women.
We wanted to do it in 5 years. Then, magically, we met Federica and we realize our dream with her. We immediately loved her contagious enthusiasm and her experiences around the world. That's why we decided to be in the foundation of SOHO. This finally gave a sense of my mission: to restore peace and smiles in the children, watching them grow safely with joy and guarantee them a future.
PIETRO NASTASI - BUSINESS CONSULTANT
(Castelvetrano - Italy)
I was born in a small town in the western Sicily, in one of those places where the problems of the rest of the world seem too far away to arouse interest. In 1989 I partecipated as an assistant to a camp for chilren with disabilities. The experience represented the beginning of a social activism. I specialized in organization, management and direction of events for children with physical and social disabilities. In 2003, with the help of many friends, I created a CD with music of children with disabilities. In 2004 I led a fundraising for the construction of a small school for girls and a feeding center in Congo. In the same year I actively partecipate for the fundraising of a center specialized in heart diseases in Peru and starta a campaign for the phenomenon of child soldiers. In 2002 my passion for off-roads and desert takes me to North Africa where I touched the plight of these children in the desert. In the following years I sent games and school supplies to the kids I met in North Africa.
In 2013, during the planning of my trip in Thailand, i met Federica Orzati, a traveler and dreamer who inspire my enthusiasm and involves me in SOHO project.
KARINE DE SOUZA - FUNDRAISER & MANAGER IN BRAZIL
(Rio de Janeiro - Brazil)
I was born in the most beautiful city in the world: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. And I immediately experienced poverty on my skin. My father's family is rich, but my mother was very poor, she comes from favelas. She lived the worse psychological abuse ever. This contrast marked me from my childhood. My mother told me often stories about the pain of poverty, thanks to that I new the meaning of need.
My mother grew up in an orphanage with her sister since their birth. Nowadays they coordinate a team of volunteers who take care of 502 kids in the orphanage where they grew up in Rio de Janiero.
Because of my background I always wanted to give love and contribution.
When I migrated to Italy I unfortunately knew the physical and psychological violence against women. After this experience I strongly wanted to help women and children to prevent poverty and violence. Thus was born my desire to create a Onlus (no-profit organization) to help the needest countries but also single mothers around the world who feel lonely and go ahead every single day.
Since 2010 I organize various sport events involving VIP's players, celebrities for the earthqake in Haiti. Later I did the same for the earthquake in Emilia Romagna (and i personaly was a volunteer there), and for children in Africa.
I have two wonderful children: Noemi and Ernesto, thanks to them I dicovered the true meaning of Love and Motherhood and Sharing.
My mission is: to be a way of Love, Peace and Joy with God's blessing. Thanks to SOHO this dream is now a reality for me and my children.
FRANCESCA LAI - ADMINISTRATOR
(Cagliari - Italy)
I always used to think that choose to be a volunteer for a good cause is one of the most important thing ever. That's why I decided to help people in my life: a few year ago I decided to start my University of Medicine and Surgery, in Sardinia. In this period I begin to support people who need help. I collaborated with many Ngos for children who are admitted in the pediatric hospital with rare diseases. Then I volunteered in "Microcitemico Hospital" of Cagliari. After some time my studies continued and I changed, step by step, the way to see people who need help.
Nelson Mandela said: "
ALLIE IPPOLITO - MANAGER SOHO IN THE U.S.
(New Jersey - USA)
My name is Allie Ippolito and i am from the US in the state of New Jersey. I recently came back from my trip to Ghana for 8 weeks. Volunteering at the village have definitely changed my life. Being and helping with the children brought jiy to me every day I was there. Providing help to these children is important to me because they serve a bright future and a healthy life. I am fallen in love with the country itself and plan to go back at least once a year. My passion of photography grew up while I was there. I took countless photos of the children, people and landscape of Ghana. I am currently enrolled as a student in my local college in New Jersey to study graphic design and photography. I plan to travel often and continue raising money and helping the children of Ghana.
