Ciapa la Moto: a lottery for children in the desert

Again Ciapa the Motorcycle rhymes with solidarity and so this year too the lottery organized by the association becomes an opportunity to do good. Last year it was Ernest Pozzali's Fairytales of Motorcyclists that was the recipient of the proceeds from the lottery in which the main clothing and accessory companies for motorcyclists donate their products. This year, however, the project of ONLUS Children in the Desert “Garage Italia project” as recipient of the lottery collection.

ONLUS Children in the Desert “Garage Italia project”: what it is

From 2000 to today, Bambini nel Deserto Onlus has had one objective: to improve the living conditions of African communities to guarantee them a dignified life in their country. This has been done through the completion of over 450 projects in 11 African countries across all sectors of International Cooperation. Among the most innovative activities in the panorama of projects to combat irregular migration is the Garage Italia project, a training school in mechanics (motorcycle repair) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Since 2014, also thanks to the financial contribution of the Motul Corazón Foundation, Garage Italia has hosted around 10 young people to train every year. 75% of those who complete the course find work in a country where the unemployment rate is among the highest in the world. The project was born from the direct request coming from civil society and Burkinabe government agencies to find a solution in favor of street children who are increasingly increasing in the main cities of Burkina Faso. Given the poor quality of motor vehicles in circulation, the state of the roads and the chronic shortage of competent mechanics in the country, Children in the Desert has developed a project to give street children in Ouagadougou a future as motorcycle mechanics. The structure that houses the school is a real workshop where the kids, in addition to taking practical lessons, can repair customers' motorcycles as well as take basic literacy and computer courses. The objective, achieved for several years now, is to provide young people with a chance to continue living in their country, thus creating a solid future as an alternative to a migratory choice towards Europe. Today Bambini nel Deserto wants to move the activities of Garage Italia in a structure on a busier and perhaps even asphalted road (it is currently in a peripheral area on a dirt road) to have a greater passage of customers and therefore diversified training opportunities. 

The Ciapa la Moto lottery: when to participate

The classic Ciapa la Moto lottery, in which helmets, jackets, gloves, boots and books will be up for grabs, is scheduled for Wednesday 26 September starting from 20.00pm. Tickets can be purchased at Motosplash (via Gardone 22 Milan), Logic Moto& Bike (via Cassano d'Adda 15 Milan) and Solo Caschi (via Pietro Colletta 9 Milan)