Three years ago, a terrible road accident took away the heart and the industriousness of "Mama" Liliana Ostinelli from the community of Malindi and particularly from many children in the disadvantaged Muyeye district.
Last Saturday, in order to honour her memory and bring an extra smile to the Mama Anakuja Children's Centre, which she founded and which is now run by her son Roberto, one of the most famous and important children's entertainers in Italy, Rodolfo D'Errico, aka "Rudi the entertainer", invented a day of games, surprises, fun and music with the help of his son Roberto, Rodolfo D'Errico, aka "Rudi the entertainer", invented a day of games, surprises, fun and music with a sidekick who is no stranger to these atmospheres, musician Marco "Sbringo" Bigi, who is now a Kenyan by adoption but who for many years was a composer of music for children for the RAI programme "L'albero azzurro".
The two, old holiday village companions in their youth, brought joy and smiles to the children and young people hosted by the structure that has been a point of reference for Italian solidarity in Malindi for many years.
Mama Liliana's thought was: "We mustn't accommodate our young people in a sad and dilapidated structure," her son Roberto continued, "but one that is organised and safe in order to give them education and love, so that they can grow up in a serene environment, studying and playing.
With this spirit, Rudi L'animatore transformed a day full of melancholy for the memory of a fantastic woman, into an opportunity to celebrate all together, in the most authentic and healthy African spirit, in which "celebrating" means celebrating with joy.