Today, as every Wednesday, we welcome a new protagonist for our column Barefoot in Luxembourg meets People. After make-up artists, djs, bloggers, today is the turn of Angela PICCOLOMINI, who is involved in a very special charity project.

Good Morning and welcome at Barefoot in Luxembourg for a new episode of our series “Barefoot in Luxembourg meets people”, thank you for joining.
Hi, my name is Angela, I’m a half Luxembourgish and a half Italian, I like pizza and ice cream. When I laugh you can hear me for miles away. I’m a biologist with a master in sustainable development and now I’m project manager for the NGO Padem. I’m in charge of awareness and education but also of the fundraising.

Can you tell Barefoot in Luxembourg readers a bit more about your Black Tea Ceylan project at Padem?
The tsunami devastated Sri Lanka coasts in December 2004, after the civil war that has anguished the country for over 30 years. Beyond the human tragedy, it was a real social disaster that deepened even more inequality between the populations.
The plantation workers represents 9.8% of the Sri Lanka population. They live in “on line” huts that have a dozen square meters size called “Laima”, separated by simple wooden partitions. This creates unsafe living conditions for children, particularly for girls who have no privacy. The breakdown of these huts is very bad, very weak and inadequate lighting, overcrowded neighborhood make them particularly vulnerable to contagious diseases.
Humidity and standing water because a rapid spread of diseases and epidemics. Water and sanitation are placed in public areas for all residents of “Laima”, but are largely insufficient. Generally, one or two latrines rows cabins are shared by 150 people.
That’s why in 2007, Padem decided to act in Sri Lanka and has already lead projects to improve the living conditions of the plantation workers by acting an innovative approach. Among others, 131 houses and retirement homes were built, children were back in school, the water supply and electricity were introduced, micro credit and training were create , cooperatives have been established and large-scale awareness campaigns were conducted.
This black tea is the result of this project…it’s our beneficiary tea! It’a Fairtrade tea!

Why people in Luxembourg should be interested by this tea project?
Cause what we do here in the “North” have a consequence on the “South”! We have to change our consumption…we have to change our way of thinking. We must take care of the products that we buy because only doing thing we can change the things, we can change lives.

What are the best three things about working from Padem?
I like the feeling to do something good, something helpful…at the end of the day I feel useful cause maybe only one child will have clean drinking water or food…and it’s a good feeling!
I enjoy the fact that I can meet a lot of different people and I love the possibility to discover new culture and new way of thinking.

Coming back to your Luxembourg background, how long have you been living in Luxembourg?
I was born here and when I was 3, my parents decided to move in the south of Italy and then, when I was 13 when they decided to come back but at the age of 19 I moved in Rome for my studies and then I came back. After all this departure and coming back, I’ve decided that my home is here.In Luxembourg.

What is your most beloved place in the city?
I like the town, I really love Place de la Constitution where the Gaelle Fra is, because you’re in the middle of the town… a lot of shops, a lot of cars, a lots of noise…but if you go near the balcony you can see trees everywhere. Maybe it’s because I’m a biologist, but all those trees give me a great feeling.

What is your favorite restaurant in Luxembourg?
I really like sushi so I will say Wayoxi in Merl and also La Feluca for the pizza cause I really love pizza…like everyone in the world… I think.

What is your preferred night-life spot in Luxembourg?
Before my favorite place to go was “SulPalco” …it was like home…but it’s closed now 😦 ! Now it’s “Urban” or “Go Ten”!

What do you like about Luxembourg life?
I like the melting pot but also the fact that Luxembourg gives you the opportunity to be what you want to be…

What do you miss here and you would like to change or improve?
I hate traffic but normally I sing alone in the car…let take the positive side of the things. I think that they are doing enough to improve this.

What is the best place you visited in a range of 200 km from the city and that you would suggest for a daily trip?
We don’t have to go so far away…I think the North of Luxembourg is really beautiful! Like Mullerthal or Vianden…I find those places charming and really beautiful!

What is the best adjective to describe Luxembourg?
OPEN