Journey of Hope sets sail for Greece

PALERMO, Italy, Aug 25 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's "Journey of Hope" boat left the port of Palermo on Monday after a successful visit to Sicily Island, its second leg in Italy. The boat is heading to Greece in an international tour to deliver a message to world for benefit of persons with intellectual disability.
Representatives of Mayor of Palermo and Kuwait Embassy in Rome were on hand to see off the team of the boat who tour 39 countries all over the world. Media in Italy highly paid attention to the team since their arrival here on August 16.
The team, accompanied by officials of the mentally disabled people campaign in Kuwait Khaled Al-Dosari and Meshaal Al-Badr, made a number of meetings organized by Kuwait's Embassy with Italy's competent associations and bodies, and the government of the autonomous region of Sicily.
Participants exchanged views and visited specialized centers that provided them with successful experiments on rehabilitation of the mentally disabled people.
During the meeting held at the Palace of the Normans, Mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando expressed Sicily's pride to receive "Journey of Hope" and his appreciation for Kuwait for its initiative to support the mentally disabled people.
Orlando affirmed that such successful initiative shows meanings of humanitarian values and Arab civilization, especially in Kuwait which launched such important project with political, cultural and social aspects.
He stressed the pioneering role of the State of Kuwaiti through establishing a parliamentary and constitutional state four decades ago, thus enjoying political and social democracy, freedom of speech and cultural enlightenment in the regional sphere.
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Italy Sheikh Ali Khaled Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who participated in, and followed up, the events of the trip, thanked Italian authorities for their hospitality and support offered to the team.
He extolled His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his kind patronage for this humanitarian mission.
The ambassador hosted a banquet on Sunday in honor of representatives of the societies concerned with the mentally disabled people and the delegation of the Journey of Hope; the event and the sidelines meetings were covered by the local media.
He presented a film screening on the idea of the Journey of Hope, the message it convoys and objectives of the project, saying that Italy desires to take part in such initiatives in the upcoming years. (end) mn.hm