I was born in Catania (Italy) in 1985 and since I was a child I have cultivated passions for art and culture, painting and building my toys. In childhood I develop a great interest in the natural ecosystem and African cultures that I begin to investigate in more depth during the degree course.
I study Buddhist philosophies and meditation techniques. I let myself be inspired by the great humanists and human rights defenders including S.S. Dalai Lama, Matamha Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Toms Sankara.
In 2014 I graduated in Building Engineering and Architecture at the University of Catania, with a thesis for a salt dam in southern Senegal, with the aim of solving a humanitarian and environmental emergency that causes malnutrition, poverty and disease to over 80,000 people. of the Sedhiou region.
From the year before graduation I started traveling to Senegal with stays of 6 months a year, with the aim of building the thesis project with the beneficiary community. In the following 2 years I had sensitized over 20,000 people in 85 beneficiary villages, as well as local, national and international institutions.
In 2014 he founded the Onlus Association Balouo Salo together with Jali Diabate, artist and Senegalese Griot. Year after year, in demonstrating my humanitarian and voluntary approach to the beneficiary communities of the Tanaff valley, and especially in the villages of Tanaff, Baghere, Sanouifly, Sambacounda, Simabndi, Diodoubou, I am adopted by a family of famous Griots from the sacred village of Baghere. I am given the name "Cheickna Diebate", it means "he who knows and wants to give", it is the name of a prophet.
Since then I have developed numerous humanitarian projects to improve the living conditions of rural communities. These include infrastructure projects such as construction of dams, schools and wells, but also training and awareness raising projects. I have established partnerships with Ministries and important international architectural firms, and have taken care of diplomatic relations for the defense of the rights of the population.
In 2015 my humanitarian commitment is rewarded by national bodies and associations.
In 2016 I organized the Kaira Looro workshop, which later became a competition, now in its 6th edition. This is the most important international architecture competition for students with the theme of humanitarian architecture and supporting humanitarian projects Balouo Salo.
Today I continue my life as a humanitarian worker with sacrifice, love and passion to build a better world and help the most needy populations, because there is no better thing than giving a smile and serenity to others.
2018 - Honorable mention, Panca d'Autore by De Biasi Marmi, Napoli, Italy
2017 - 1° Prize for the Memorial Monument for Elisa Springer, Comune di Manduria, Italy
2017 - 2° Prize for the Memorial Monument for di Pietro Mennea, Comune di Barletta, Italy
2015 - Prize Giovanni Lorenzin per progetti sulla gestione idrica in Africa, Portogruaro, Italy
2015 - Prize Solidarietà internazionale 2015, Federico Giovanni II, Rosolini, Italy.
Master Degree
Master degree in Civil Engineering & Architecture (11/2014), University of Catania, Italy
Architecture Actions certificates & courses:
Sustainable Urban Development, by Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions
Ecodesign for Cities and Suburbs, by University of British Columbia
Architecture BIM Autodesk Revit, by Autodesk certified centre CMM
Autodesk 3DS Max Design, by Autodesk certified centre CMM
Humanitarian Actions certificates & courses:
Emergency responses & humanitarian development
Health in humanitarian crises, by London school of hygiene & tropical medicine
Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster, by Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
From Conflict to peace, by United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Conflict analysis, by United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Sustainable development in humanitarian action, by International Federation of Red Cross and Rec Cross
Societies (IFRC)
Environment, Natural Resources and UN Peacekeeping Operations, by United Nations Institute for Training and Research )
Human rights :
Challenging Poverty, Vulnerability and Social Exclusion, Middlesex University, by SDGAcademyX
Human Rights: The Rights of Refugees, by Amnesty International
Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice, by Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
Gender Concepts, International Frameworks for Gender Equality,Promoting Gender Equality throughout the UN System by UNWOMEN
Women´s Leadership and Decision Makingn by UNWOMEN
Gender Equality and Education by UNWOMEN
Women´s Economic Empowerment by UNWOMEN
Violence against Women and Girls by UNWOMEN
Women, Peace and Security by UNWOMEN
Gender Equality in the World of Work by UNWOMEN