Brescia Art Supports Landmine Victims at Charity Auction

Brescia art in support of children mutilated by landmines. Paintings and sculptures became tools of solidarity during the charity auction organized by the Rotary Club Brescia Sud Est Montichiari and held recently at the Savoy Palace in Gardone Riviera. There were 150 guests: members of the organizing Rotary Club, the president of the 2050th District of Rotary International, Mario Orlandini, the highest civil and military authorities of the province, and representatives of the Brescia business community.

The proceeds from the gala, organized and promoted by Mrs. Luciana Bertoli, will be donated to the noble cause of the “Prosthesis Project – Helping Them Find Their Smile.” This is an international humanitarian program promoted by the District 2050 of Rotary International, aimed at unfortunate children who have lost one or more limbs due to a landmine explosion or have bone deformities worsened by lack of proper medical care.

With the “Prosthesis Project,” which is carried out through collaborations between Rotary, Unicef, the Italian Red Cross, and the Italian Federation of Pediatricians, the goal is to intervene directly in countries where the problem manifests in its most severe form by equipping or completing laboratories for prosthesis manufacturing and customization, as well as training specialized personnel.

Spread and impact of the landmine issue

The project, already active in Bosnia at the Zenica Hospital, is now being implemented in Palestine as well. The gravity and scale of the “landmine problem” are staggering: 110 million unexploded devices are still present in 67 countries worldwide. Every month, landmines kill 800 people and maim 1,200. Every twenty minutes, a landmine explodes, targeting civilians, especially children.

Generous contributions from over twenty artists of Ucai (the Association of Brescia Catholic Painters), who donated their artwork, and the guests attending the charity evening, during which these pieces were auctioned, helped support and improve the living conditions of affected children. Between bids and counters, impressive sums were raised. Naturally, all the artworks were sold.