The Italian Ambassador to Tanzania, Giuseppe Coppola, presented his compatriots Carol Ann Baloski Colangelo and Francesca Micheli with the Order of the Star of Italy, conferred by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella for their activities in Tanzania.
Mrs. Carol Ann and her late husband Nicola Colangelo contributed significantly to Tanzania's socio-economic development and to strengthening bilateral economic-commercial relations since 1978, particularly with investments in the tourism and construction sectors.
The enterprises set up over the past forty years have produced wealth in the country by employing thousands of Tanzanians and are a virtuous example of inclusive economic development. Among the various activities started by the Colangelos are Coastal Aviation, Coastal Steel Industries, Ctm and the numerous tourist facilities in the main national parks and in Zanzibar.
Francesca Micheli founded the NGO 'Sister Island' in Nungwi (Zanzibar) in 2019. The award recognises her contribution to promoting educational, social, cultural and humanitarian initiatives that have strengthened ties between Italy and Tanzania. Sister Island's two schools, one pre-school and one primary, now welcome over 300 pupils from families in the local community. The project involves several villages in the northern part of the main island of Zanzibar, Unguja, and recently also on the island of Pemba.
During the ceremony, a football pitch, built thanks to funds from Italian donors, was inaugurated. In presenting the honours, the ambassador emphasised that the activities of the two compatriots Carol Ann Baloski Colangelo and Francesca Micheli are an example of the commitment of the many Italians present in Tanzania, not only in the economic but also in the social sphere, and provide a valuable contribution to relations between the two countries.
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