Son of Hanover’s Princess Caroline to visit mom’s charity works in RP

Andrea Casiraghi, son of Princess Caroline of Hanover, is scheduled to arrive today to visit his mother’s charity works for Amade Philippines and Virlanie Foundation.

The 22-year-old Casiraghi, together with foreign volunteers from the foundation, will be visiting the children who are in the care of Virlanie Foundation in Makati City.

Amade (Association Mondiale des Amis de l’Enfrance or World Association of Children’s Friends) was founded by Andrea’s grandmother, Princess Grace of Monaco, in 1963 "with the mission to promote and protect children’s rights around the world."

The Virlanie Foundation is a non-government child-rearing institution, which provides developmental services to its beneficiaries.

It was founded in 1992 by French national Dominique Lemay, who once served as a director of Caritas France.

Lemay visited the Philippines in 1987 as a social worker and was scandalized by the miserable situation of Filipino children. Because of his dismay, Lemay decided to stay in the Philippines and put up the Virlanie Foundation.

Virlanie has a total of 90 Filipino staff members who are assisted by volunteers from 30 countries, mostly in Europe.

Casiraghi is also scheduled to meet special children in Cavite, Payatas in Quezon City and Tondo in Manila, including the wards of the Action Center Manila.

The young philanthropist will be mingling with some Filipino youth volunteers and young musicians. He will also attend a feeding activity with Amade-Virlanie volunteers on Onyx street in Paco, Manila.

Casiraghi is also scheduled to meet law students from the University of the Philippines and to participate in a youth forum at the Ateneo de Manila University.

His week-long visit will be highlighted by a major gathering dubbed "Royal Chill Out" at the Nuvo and Mezze restaurants in Greenbelt 2, Makati City on Aug. 25, where guests will be given Virlanie-Beloved cuffs.

Casiraghi is the eldest son of Princess Caroline by her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi. Princess Caroline now heads the Amade foundation.

The Princess had heard about Lemay’s work among Filipino street children and, after their meeting Lemay in Monte Carlo a few years ago, she became a regular patron of the Virlanie Foundation.

In October 2004, Princess Caroline visited the Philippines for her first humanitarian field trip as president of Amade.

Amade Philippines was set up as a benefactor of Virlanie Foundation.

The executive committee overseeing Andrea's visit to Manila is composed of Virlanie founder and president Lemay, board member and chairperson Marietta Santos, members Josine Elizalde, Deeda Garcia, Dr. Tony Protacio and Amade Philippines president Eric Mallonga. — Helen Flores