Founding members
ELENA VALDATA
Elena Valdata, entrepreneur and founder of Sudanese tourism company “Italian Tourism Co” since the year 2000 and more recently of Out of Italy, based in Milan. Investing in Sudan cannot be just “business,” in fact she has always implemented microcredit for all employees in her Sudanese company so that they can carry out small and large projects. The choice of the name is not accidental because friendship is the value that drives us to devote time, strength and funds to realize these projects.
Valentina Rubbi
A graduate in Design and Management of Tourism Systems from the University of Bergamo, she is employed at Out of Italy and for several years worked with the Italian tourism Co from the Khartoum office spending several months of the year. Her encounter with the country and the Sudanese people left an indelible mark on Valentina’s heart and she decided to join Friends of Sudan.
“If it is true that life is a journey, then I chose the Sudanese as my companions and Sudan as my path.”
carla piazza
She has worked for The Italian Tourism Co – Sudan since 2004 handling international marketing, programming, Khartoum office manager and local guide in Italian, Spanish and English.
Passionate about deserts, she moves from Australia to Sudan. Not only there are very beautiful deserts in Sudan, there are also very special people here! Friends of Sudan is a small drop in Sudan’s ocean of sand, Carla is convinced that grain by grain, all together we will be able to concretely build all the projects.
Our Supporters
THE ITALIAN TOURISM CO.
For many years, The Italian Tourism Co. Ltd, has been active in promoting tourism in Sudan and welcoming travelers from all over the world.
Working in Africa is a good opportunity to help people less fortunate than ourselves. Education, health care and many other services that we “take for granted” are still a challenge for Sudan.
The Italian Tourism Co. Ltd has been trying for years to support local projects aimed at improving the living conditions of the population. The goal is to be able to continue our commitment to international cooperation for sustainable development and human rights in Sudan.
By traveling with The Italian Tourism Co. Ltd in Sudan you will contribute to our projects, as we periodically make donations to our NGO.
david rull
Professor, scientific disseminator, content creator and guide of scientific and cultural expeditions.
PhD in Egyptology in Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Graduate in Philosophy.
David lands in Sudan as an archaeologist and continues to travel in Sudan accompanying Spanish cultural groups. His encounter with the Sudanese people engages him so much that he decides to promote Friends of Sudan in order to be able to develop projects.
CINZIA JORIS
An archaeologist by trade and cultural populariser by passion. Parallel to her profession as a site archaeologist, she has always worked in archaeological heritage valorization and communication. PhD in Prehistory in the European Research Center in Tautavel France, and Graduate in Classic literature, specialized in archaeology.
Cinzia first came to Sudan by leading groups of French travelers through the archaeological sites. She became passionate about Sudan’s not only millenary history, pyramids, and temples, but also about the people, who are hospitable and welcoming. This is why she decided to promote Friends of Sudan in developing his education and health projects. Projects that are indispensable for the Sudanese people whom she loves so much.
Friends of Sudan 