"Together, ants move elephants"
Serena, heart and soul of the Costa Family Foundation, on her first journey to Uganda. A story of awareness, transformation, and lived humanity
When I packed my bags for Uganda, I didn’t really know what to expect. It was my first trip to the African continent, and while I had no specific expectations, deep inside, I knew it would be a transformative experience.
As soon as I landed in Kampala, I was overwhelmed by an energy completely different from anything I had ever known. A world filled with constant noise, chaotic traffic, strong scents, disorder, and poverty everywhere. In the first few days, my body frequently demanded rest, and more than once, tears welled up, accompanied by a deep sense of injustice. I had seen images and reports about Africa before, of course, but experiencing it firsthand - losing access to water, touching certain realities - was something else entirely. Amidst the contradictions of a capital city that never stops, a new awareness started to take root within me.
Encounters with projects and people
During the trip, I had the opportunity to visit numerous projects supported by the Costa Family Foundation, alongside my colleagues from the "Insieme si può…" association. I met women, men, and children who, through shared commitment and paths of training and support, are rewriting their own stories.
One place that touched me deeply was STAC – Special Talent Angel’s Center – a center dedicated to children with special needs. In a society where disability is still heavily stigmatized, this was a space of care, professionalism, and vision. The light in those children’s eyes, the dedication of the staff, and the tireless work to raise awareness among families left me speechless.
The strength of the women of Namuwongo
Among all the encounters, one will forever remain in my heart: meeting the women of the Namuwongo slum. Women who, starting from extreme vulnerability, are building a new future through the social tailoring project. With just a needle and thread, they are not only sewing clothes but also weaving dignity, autonomy, and hope. Their smiles, their pride - these were powerful lessons for me.
The power of vision: awareness and change
I work closely with Michil Costa, founder of the Costa Family Foundation, and after this journey, I felt even more strongly the value and urgency of the work we do. Choosing to look beyond one’s own business interests, to open up to distant worlds, is an act of courage and generosity. In Uganda, where the Foundation allocates most of its funds, I saw with my own eyes how even the smallest gesture - a well, a garden, books, an agroforestry training course - can create an immense impact.
From a professional perspective, this trip confirmed that our projects truly work. They work because they are deeply rooted in the local community, because our partners bring expertise, heart, and dedication. On a personal level, something ignited in me: the desire to help build a bridge of awareness between distant worlds. Because those of us who live in privilege - often without even realizing it - carry a great responsibility.
What helped me most to endure the emotional weight of this experience was trying to see situations through the eyes of those who live them. In doing so, despair transformed into compassion and tenderness. And from there, a new energy to take action was born.
Planting seeds of light for the future, together
For me, working with the Foundation means this: planting small seeds of light in the world. And today, I feel the need to take an extra step. I dream of us becoming a truly extended Foundation, where the Costa Family, the Casa Costa collaborators, the hotels, and all the involved realities feel part of a single community. A community in dialogue, capable of connecting profit and non-profit for a shared good.
There is a proverb from Burkina Faso that says: “If ants agree, they can move an elephant.” That’s exactly how I see us - all of us - as those ants. And I see the projects we support as the elephant to be moved. Unite, cooperate, believe in change - this is the spirit with which I look to the future of the Foundation.
If I had to summarize everything I experienced in just one word, that word would be: transformation.
