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Similar to previous years, also this year the Italian Red Cross society had conducted a three days first aid general assembly to its hundreds of volunteers.
The annual event, aiming to bring together the ItRC volunteers, gathered this year 1,100 volunteers from all over Italy, Sicily and Sardegna.
This year, given the MDA admission to the RCRC movement, and considering the expansion of the cooperation between the two national societies - ItRC and MDA - the Italian Red Cross has graciously invited representatives from MDA to attend the gathering.
Four of MDA volunteers represented Israel and MDA in this important event: Efraim Yanko, Ayelet Azulay, Amir Ben-Nifla and Shimon Blum.
With their arrival in Rome, they were welcomed with great honor by the ItRC representatives, and then they proceeded to the assembly, 3 hours northern - in Montesilvano, located in picturesque Abruzzo County.
The activities and lectures during the assembly were all conducted in Italian. However, the kind hosts, removing any doubt about the Italian hospitality, made their Israeli guests feel most convenient when providing simultaneous translators to accompany them during the convention.
During the assembly a few internal-organizational issues were raised and discussed as well as the great humanitarian operation that the Italian RC has carried out during the past year. The event was most festive and impressive, during which the Israeli participants were honored with the presence of the general supervisor of the organization, the
Montesilvano Mayor and the presence of the President of the Italian Red cross society, Mr. Massimo Barra, who is familiar with the MDA operation, and paid a visit in Israel in April.
During their second day in Italy, the MDA delegation members were given the opportunity to present MDA to their Italian counterparts. They have delivered a lecture describing MDA's functions, the MDA volunteers including youth, the organization's operations in times of disaster or terror and in times of routine, its humanitarian mission within Israel and abroad, the joint activities with the Palestinian population and the PRCS, and more.
The lecture gained a lot of interest and the organizers have kindly suggested dedicating an additional hour for questions from the fascinated audience. The delegation got on the stage and answered the Italian volunteers' questions in various issues.
During the coming days, the delegation aroused more curiosity, in the frame of the assembly, but also outside, by the Italian media and journalists. They had the honor to meet with the directorate of the Italian Red Cross, during the closing ceremony, when they have exchanged impressions and given gifts.
While meeting with the MDA delegation members, Mr. Massimo Barra has shared with them his respect for their presence in the Italian assembly. Following his request, they accompanied him to the stage, where he took the opportunity and kindly thanked them personally for attending the assembly, their kind words and valued contribution to the assembly. It was a most emotional occasion, and the MDA delegation had expressed their gratitude to be included in such an extraordinary event and the warm hospitality.
Efraim Yanko, the head of the MDA delegation stated that: "following an exemplary hospitality, we were offered by the organizers to extend our visit in one more day. During this time, we were the guests of the ItRC head of special operations department, who had kindly dedicated time to meet with us early that day in Rome."
With their return home, the delegation was grateful for the ItRC for the invitation and for all their efforts to make their Israeli colleagues nothing but pleasure and comfort.
The visit was granted with a vast coverage by the media all over Italy.
The Chairman of MDA Executive Committee, Dr. Naom Yifrach, expressed MDA deep gratitude for the ItRC support, and an outstanding event, and Mr. Barra for providing the opportunity for MDA volunteers to be the ItRC guests in such an honorable occasion.
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