It was during the World Cup of 2010 when I, Rita Iannuzzi, International Ambassador for the New Jerusalem Children’s Home in South Africa made a wish and now with Cargo of Dreams, that wish is slowly coming true.

You see, I had a dream, that all infants, children and adults would live a life worthy of their Birthrights, as I believe that we should all have the right to eat, sleep, live, learn, grow and be healthy. No one is born asking for material wealth, we all come into this God given life, kicking and screaming for love…….

I have always tried to give as much love as possible, help as many people in need as I can and so for the past 5 years I have operated, from my base in Italy, an association of international solidarity aiming to touch the lives of the most vulnerable of our society, that is the abandoned, traumatised, abused and sick children in the African continent and beyond. 

It has been a tough journey and at times a very difficult one to make, but I have made some wonderful discoveries along the way, seen beautiful things in places where others may just see misery, and I have heard the laughter and the tears of children who really have no one else to turn to….but they always have just one last smile to give, even when they receive nothing in return.

One of the most beautiful things I came across along my path of hope was a Pre -school. I was travelling in Paarl, Capetown and had visited some areas that were so hostile, so unwelcoming and so needy but filled with so many beautiful children – children who needed shelter, food, love and comfort –

 I never believed it possible to find anything of beauty at all in that desperately poor area then there it was, all of a sudden through sheets and sheets of cold, stark steel construction was a vision of beauty………a Pre school developed by Cargo of Dreams. It was like seeing a rainbow, like watching a white cloud serge through the grey tones of the surrounding buildings.

The structure was so bright, light, purposeful and moreover it was a hive of activity………..There were children and adults everywhere, enjoying their day, running with toys and the children were there learning, the adults were so over joyed to be visited, and I felt like I was breathing some NEW air, like nothing I had inhaled before….I felt blessed to be there in and amongst so much ugliness there was something really good and clean and alive.

 I was addicted and I was fascinated at how amazingly the disused cargo containers that formed the pre school had been put to good use –

After having struggled for over 5 years with the trials and the costs of traditional construction in SA, I just had to know who had created this, how it had been built and most importantly, where could I go from here …………..

I met Marius in Los Angeles and after having seen everything that he had done in the past and how he envisaged the Cargo of Dream organisation growing into the future, I just had to become more involved…….it was a natural meeting of the minds, strongly fuelled by the same passion we have for Jesus and his giving ways. 

I am currently involved with Cargo of Dreams on two fronts, I tell their stories to as many organisations and charities around the world as I can, as I want everyone to understand their incredible concept and how we can all actively take part in giving back life and breath to communities that seem so hard to reach in any other way – Cargo of dreams and I are currently working on a project for Sierra Leone……..it is yet another difficult journey for us both to make and the work involved is tremendously hard but it is so satisfying to know that God is on our side, pushing us through the boundaries for we have been asked by the people of Kono state to grant them their one wish……….

They too have a dream………but it will not be just that for much longer as….

With Cod, What they once dreamt of is becoming a reality and it is thanks to this wonderful concept in construction………..that their dream of a medi and edutainer combination is coming to life.

YES, I will still dream, because I have so many dreams to pursue, but now there is a difference, when I wake up I find that the dream is still there, it is alive and it is loving, it is giving and it is growing for ….. it is becoming a Cargo, A Cargo of Dreams and I no longer live in the fear of having to turn around to my needy brothers and sisters and say no, put an end to their hope, dispel and deflate their very own dream – this is what Cod had done for me, what it will do for you and what it is doing for them, so many people who had nothing at all now have Cargo of Dreams……….so How do you Dream? Come and tell me your storey and I will tell you mine and theirs, and his and hers and OURS