It was a sunny day, April 15, 1975, in Asmara, Eritrea, when the life of 10-year-old Vittorio Colmanet took a dramatic turn. Vittorio, an Italian child, was walking home from school, lost in thought, when he was suddenly grabbed from behind by a group of armed men. They were members of the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), a separatist movement fighting for Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia.
The men, dressed in military attire, quickly overpowered Vittorio and threw him into a waiting vehicle. They sped away, leaving behind a trail of dust and confusion. Vittorio's parents, who were waiting for him at home, were frantic with worry when he failed to arrive. They launched a search party, but there was no sign of their beloved son.
The perpetrators, led by a man named Mohammed Ali, a high-ranking member of the ELF, took Vittorio to a secret hideout on the outskirts of Asmara. For several days, Vittorio was held captive, subjected to physical and emotional abuse. He was forced to endure harsh conditions, with little food or water, and was constantly threatened with harm if he did not cooperate.
Miraculously, after several weeks of captivity, Vittorio was released, likely due to international pressure and negotiations between the Italian government and the ELF. He was reunited with his overjoyed parents, who were relieved to see their son alive, although traumatized by his experience.
The abduction had a profound impact on Vittorio, leaving him with emotional scars that would take years to heal. However, with the support of his family and therapy, he slowly began to overcome the trauma. He realized that he had a choice: to let the experience define him or to use it as a catalyst for growth.
With a newfound determination, Vittorio threw himself into his studies. He moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he enrolled in the Guebre-Mariam High School, a secular Franco-Ethiopian Mission school. The school provided a safe and nurturing environment, allowing Vittorio to focus on his education and rebuild his life.
Vittorio thrived at Guebre-Mariam, excelling in his studies and developing a passion for languages and history. He formed close bonds with his teachers and classmates, who became like a second family to him. With each passing year, Vittorio grew in confidence, gradually shedding the shadows of his traumatic experience.
After completing his secondary education, Vittorio decided to stay in Addis Ababa, where he started a family of his own. He met a wonderful woman, Ethiopian by birth, and they fell deeply in love. They got married and had two beautiful children, a boy, and a girl, who brought immense joy to their lives.
As a father, Vittorio was determined to provide a stable and loving home for his children, free from the trauma and uncertainty he had endured. He worked hard to build a successful career, using his language skills to become a translator and interpreter. His family became his rock, his source of strength and inspiration.
Years later, Vittorio would look back on his abduction as a turning point in his life, a moment that could have broken him but instead made him stronger. He would tell his children stories of his experiences, using them as a way to teach them about resilience, courage, and the importance of never giving up.
And so, Vittorio Colmanet, the Italian child who was once abducted in Asmara, Eritrea, lived a full and happy life in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, surrounded by the people and the city he loved. His story serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity to overcome even the darkest of experiences, to heal, and to thrive. PEACE.
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