The S. João de Deus Foundation, in cooperation with the Hospital of the city of Montemor-o-Novo (Alentejo), promoted the project “Innocents of war”, with the purpose of contributing to the re-habilitation of amputated adolescents and children victims of anti-man mines and of Polio. The Hospital management believes that the initiative is in line with an activity which is always specifically addressed to the care of poor and sick children”. The project also represents “an opportunity to develop technical skills in the field of rehabilitation for those working in those Countries where the charitable work of the religious of S. João de Deus is active”. Together with the Christmas sale of local products, managed by Palop (African Countries with Portuguese as their official language), in the forthcoming months different musical events will be organized throughout the country with the purpose of collecting funds for this humanitarian initiative. The project focuses on the tragedy of anti-man mines which continue to pose a major threat to life in many African, Asian and Latin American countries where explosions of these mines cause two deaths per hour”. It also presents and responds to the pleas of Cardinal Renato Martino who, as President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, recently expressed the Vatican’s support for the campaign promoted by the international organization, “Roots of Peace” which aims at transforming the mined fields into land where grapevines can be cultivated.
