Children in the Desert: With FIF we put the reductions for a good reason

Article in its browsable layout published by the Italian Off-Road Federation https://issuu.com/fif4x4/docs/fuoristrada_4x4-n44-novembre-2023 In the world of off-roading, adventure goes beyond the challenge of rough terrain. For Luca Iotti, Founder and current President of the NGO Bambini nel Deserto ETS, the passion for 4×4 was the driving force that led him to create the Humanitarian Organization which for over 20 years has been working in contexts where adequate off-road mobility it is necessary to be able to reach and develop significant humanitarian projects. The Organization, with deep roots in the heart of Africa and the Sahara desert, has developed activities for remote and vulnerable communities in 18 African countries in two decades.

The idea for Children in the Desert was born from Luca’s travels in Africa, from the vast desert landscapes that open up before the eyes of those who venture into these wild lands. Among sinuous dunes and lunar landscapes, he discovered the beauty and fragility of this environment and the people who live there. Expeditions across the Sahara, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso saw Children in the Desert teams in 4x4s plowing through dusty tracks that seemed to have no end, crossing uncontaminated landscapes and meeting nomads who make these lands their home. “Nomadic camps – says Luca Iotti – are places of wonder and beauty, but also of challenge. Here, families live a simple life, following ancient rhythms unknown to us. Children in the Desert visits bring clothes, shoes and educational materials for the little ones and wells, schools and hospitals for the communities. Every meeting is an opportunity for a warm exchange, to share stories and to welcome visitors under hospitable tents. The aroma of boiling black tea fills the air as conversations take place in the shade of the tents, creating bonds that transcend cultural and linguistic differences. The mission of Children in the Desert, however, goes beyond desert landscapes and encounters with nomads. In Chad, for example, we had to deal with the harshness of a refugee camp for children, a place of hope and challenge. Here, young lives have been shaken by the violence and harshness of a very critical situation, but thanks to the work of a team formed by Children in the Desert in collaboration with other United Nations agencies, they have received assistance and the possibility of reuniting with their dear on the edges of Lake Chad. Only thanks to the provision of 4x4s made available by IOM were we able to manage the logistics of such a movement of people”.

Every journey is an endurance test for vehicles and drivers, but the desire to bring help and hope is the engine that drives them forward. The pleasure, sometimes, of “having” to overcome a line of dunes in the Ténéré is the benefit for the work of the Children in the Desert volunteers. And lovers of off-road driving know well the emotions that only driving a 4×4 can convey. Thus, the legacy of Children in the Desert is a story of adventure, passion and devotion. The passion for off-roading and the world of motors is intrinsic to the identity of Bambini nel Deserto. Born in Modena, a city with a long history in the automotive industry, the Organization has always recognized the transformative potential of this passion. The synergy between the world of motors and the humanitarian mission of Bambini nel Deserto demonstrates how passion can be the engine of positive change.

And this passion for off-roading naturally merges with the desire to directly and concretely help people by reaching places where others cannot reach. This concept is not foreign to Italian lands either, where the flexibility and versatility of off-road vehicles have been demonstrated in emergency situations. From recent earthquakes to devastating floods, 4×4 capabilities have been vital in reaching isolated communities and providing immediate assistance. Today, 23 years after the first knobby wheels plowed through the sand, the Organization enthusiastically welcomes the patronage of the Italian Off-Road Federation (FIF). This partnership promises to bring even more strength to the Organization’s humanitarian mission. But Luca Iotti and his team want to do more. “In 2024 – he says – together with the FIF we want to carry out new humanitarian projects to demonstrate once again how the off-road world can put the “reduced” for a good cause. It will be an undertaking that will demonstrate the power of passion, adventure and solidarity to improve the world we live in through the involvement and awareness of all federated clubs.”