News

Aquila, 23 September 2011 – This morning in Aquila, capital city of the Abruzzo region, the new multipurpose student centre was inaugurated. This centre was constructed after the 2009 earthquake thanks to a €410,000 donation from the Coca-Cola System (The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Hellenic) and Italian non-profit Cittadinanzattiva. The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Aquila, Massimo Cialente, the President of the Abruzzo Region, Gianni Chiodi, the Under Secretery of State to the Council of Ministers, Gianni Letta, the Head of Department of the Civil Protection authority, Franco Gabrielli and
Coca-Cola HBC Italia and Cittadinanzattiva managers.

A canteen, library and internet point are just some of the features of this multipurpose centre which was completed by the city’s Department of Civil Protection.

Fausto Rubini, director of the Coca-Cola HBC Italia production plant in Oricola stated that “It is an honour for all of us at Coca-Cola to attend the inauguration of this incredible structure dedicated to the young people of the area. In the trying days after the earthquake, when our factory was used as a logistics centre for the distribution of emergency goods for the Italian Red Cross and the National Civil Protection authority, numerous employees volunteered their help. It is days like these that show how determination, commitment and responsibility can lead to great results.”

“In a time when there seems to be a lack of self belief at large, there is good news from Aquila”, added Antonio Gaudioso, general vice secretary of Cittadinanzattiva, the association which also takes the civil part in six initiatives started after the earthquake on 6th April 2009. “As is demonstrated by this experience, the protection and development of the common good in an area with such a high number of prestigious partnerships between the world of business and civil associations should be of benefit not only in times of emergency but also in day to day life”.

In a little more than two and a half years since the terrible earthquake struck the city, the multipurpose centre has contributed to the return to normality of the city’s university, which never interrupted its academic activity, notwithstanding the great difficulties it faced.