Bon'anno Agape

Agape had it's end of the service year party last Friday. After Wednesday's birthday party for Acursio, I was not sure I could stand another party, but I still wanted to go. One of the reasons is the young man on the left, who has the most infectious smile I have ever known. I first really noticed it when a volunteer Physical Education Teacher was carrying him and dancing with him at a Christmas party in 2002, the first year we got here. He was so happy to be able to dance. What a guy.

Any way, go I did, and I was glad I did. I even got Klaus, my friend from Mannhiem to join me, and as an added bonus, my new friend from Canada, Monica, also made the scene. Monica is an Organization Development person whose specialty is negotiations coaching, and she is starting a consulting service here in Sciacca.

Anyway, the party was held at a pizzeria right near where I live, so it was an easy drive over. Almost all the parents and clients and staff were there, and it was good to see them in a social setting rather than
just at the Agape center. Of course there was plenty of pizza and water and soda (and beer) to go around, along with they typical Sicilian appetizers of French Fried Potatoes, Pannelli (deep fried chichi bean flour squares) (or garbonzo bean), and potatoe croquettes.




The two ceramics artists, including my friend Giovanni were there. They have been spending Thursday afternoons with the clients of Agape, teaching them to make simple ceramic pieces. On the first Sunday of each month, they have a booth in Piazza Scandiallotto, where the ceramics are sold to help pay for program.

At the close of the evening, after dancing to a local DJ, the friends of Agape were each rewarded with a ceramics piece. Even my friend Klaus, who was really just a visitor, was given one. That is the sort of welcoming community Agape seems to be.




I can not end this piece without a special mention about Stefano. Stefano was the volunteer PE teacher who danced around the room carrying my favorite smiler the first time I met him. After watching Stefano work at Agape, and at Agape parties, I would hire him as an adaptive Physical Education Teacher on the spot if I were still working in Fulton. We would spend time together working with the bureaucracy getting his degree to be accepted and getting him certified. Meanwhile, the kids would have the best program from the best teacher ever. I have endless respect for him. And even the athletic director would be happy, as I am sure he would coach the championship soccer, bicycle, and team handball teams. Bravo Stefano.