In the country which turns around an ever green Berlusconi in his late 70s and government was repeatedly saved by the over 100 life Senator Rita Lvei-Montalcini yesterday I met the grandpa of all third sector leaders: Giovanni Bersani, life Senator of the Italian Republic.
Born in 1914, he worked my great grandfather, was saved by grandfather and likely to meet my nephew. Five generations. While my family was multiplying the herd of God he was elected member to the Italian Parliament, and lately at the European Parliament. He discussed Europe with Spinelli when it wasn’t even invented. He has been involved in international development before African countries got their independence. Working for the European institutions firstly, in the 60s he created 2 of the main Italian NGOs: CEFA and Intersos.
I spent a couples of hours with him. It’s like watching a BBC documentary about EU and Africa for the last 50 years. He complained how Mugabe has changed over the years disappointing all the expectations he raised at the beginning after independence, and why Somalia recovery fell apart when kids didn’t welcome Buthros Ghai properly in his visit to the country. Fascinating.
He doesn’t have a computer in his office, relies on his secretary for everything, he can’t even travel anymore but he didn’t stop mentioning the new projects in Uganda and Senegal he’s ready to start. He regrets to have discovered foundations too late in his life. However, he’s already founded one!
Later in the day, I met another granpa. He’s just in his 70s and in charge of one of the largest foundations in Europe: 700 million euro assets and 50 million euro donated every year. He led a University beforehand and sat in several boards of corporations. I asked him to a meeting to present my European network and propose to work together to develop the Italian counterpart.
He candidly admitted he neither speak English fluently nor use internet. ‘I write and memorize as in the old days’ he confessed and he’s helped by a score of secretaries, I would add. In any case, he praised the initiative and in less than an hour confirmed the support of the foundation and providing some practical solutions. I call this vision and leadership.
After a day in Bologna I must review all my thoery about society change and generations. Who said we must invest in the youth at the expenses of the older generations? these grandpas show more bravery and capacity than anybody else. You know what, we should get rid off of the noisy and inconclusive young people and leave the grandpas leading the country for 20 more years… as long as they don’t claim the pension benefits back!
