Giovanna Baistrocchi

Intro

Giovanna is from Italy and has been in Northern Ireland 7 years. She came here after meeting her partner on the Camino pilgrimage and love brought her to live and teach in NI.

Summary

Her family still live in Italy and she has regular contact with them. Her Italian roots and heritage are very important to her but it is here she has found a home from home. This is where she calls home now but her Italian heritage is still very important to her and plays a very important part in shaping her life. Giovanna explains that although she doesn’t have children, it is still very important for her to pass down her Italian culture and traditions so others can understand why she came here and this project provides an opportunity to do just that.

Giovanna grew up in a small and very idyllic village in Italy. She has many fond memories of her childhood, playing in the square with her cousins and friends. Her father was the doctor in the village so she was well known as the GP’s daughter! It was a lot different coming to NI and being somewhat anonymous in another country and it took time and effort to make new friends. Her partner’s family have become her family and she has embraced life here.

She misses the outdoor life she was accustomed to in Italy. Food and hospitality play a central role in life there and it was not uncommon to gather with family and eat outdoors, enjoying friendship and the sunshine! It a rare treat to have this opportunity in NI but something she doesn’t take for granted. She still remembers the aromas and beautiful smells of the fresh food, the pastas and special ingredients used to make her grandmother’s food so delicious. She tries to replicate these recipes and share them with her Irish family, even trying to make fresh pasta!

Today, Giovanna’s work with women is at the heart of her purpose, “supporting and accompanying them through their own transformation, so they can reconnect with themselves, shine their light and bring that light into their lives and the world.”

“Sempre farsi forza e continuare a lottare.
Resistere e far di tutto perchè domani possa esser migliore.
Sempre dare amore e credere in quel che si fa.”

Giovanna is an inspiration. Her passion for life and others is clear for all to see.