The red onion from Acquaviva delle Fonti season has just started, but this time we would like to talk about the "La Cipolla Rossa abbraccia il Continente Nero" (Red Onions embrace the Dark Continent) project - a cooperation between the Consortium to safeguard and promote the products from the Acquaviva delle Fonti area, the "Cuore della Puglia" council association, the Kirikù charity association and the Strega Povertà nonprofit association.
Domenico "Mimmo" Zonno from the nonprofit organisation told FreshPlaza that they are "trying to help growers part of the "Villaggio Puglia" in the Rwentobo village. Their onions are very similar to ours and we are suggesting improved cultivation techniques."
Villaggio Puglia is actually a wider humanitarian project. In November 2013, various local organisations in Apulia collaborated to build a road connecting Kampala, capital of Uganda, to Kigali, capital of Rwanda, as well as a church and a professional school.
"The first students graduated in November 2015. Villaggio Puglia is located 30 miles from Kebale. Those who know the area also know how poor it is - there are many refugees from Rwanda, there is no drinkable water or electricity and no asphalt roads. In addition, mortality is high due to AIDS and malaria."
Domenico Zonno with the President of the Consorzio Qualità Tipica di Puglia Arcangelo Bruno while they talk about the Africa project during the second edition of "Premio Consorzio Qualità Tipica Puglia".
The "La Cipolla Rossa abbraccia il Continente Nero" programme has the following objectives:
- improve the local production in Rwentobo;
- include the local produce in the production chain;
- transfer of the necessary know-how;
- donations to improve production;
The "Scuola grill Puglia" or "Puglia School grill" projects is also being launched thanks to Antichi Sapori Montegrosso chef Pietro Zito in cooperation with the nonprofit organisation and the Provincia dei Frati Minori di San Francesco in Africa, Madagascar e Mauritius coordinated by Father Carmelo Giannone.
In addition to the courses at the Puglia Professional School in Rwentobo (Uganda), a cookery course may also be organised to teach students how to prepare dishes using local produce (red onions, bananas, etc.) so that they can then sell them along the road connecting Kampala with Kigali. The money could then be used to support the school.
For further information:
Mimmo Zonno
Tel.: (+39) 335 5909832
Email: domenicozonno66@gmail.com
Author: Rossella Gigli
Copyright: www.freshplaza.it