Women's Portraits

Pina Scarpa

A woman full of courage

Pina is a 72 years old woman, simple and tenacious. She had to face very difficult moments in her life, but she could always start again with  a great courage.

Biographical notes

Pina was born in a small village in Sardinia, in a big family with seven children. The economic and cultural environment was characterized by hard work and sacrifices. Pina recalls the years when she lived with her grandmother as the most pleasant in her life.

She spends most of her life in Macomer, where she meets her great love, Franco: they marry and  move to Oristano, a bigger town not far from Macomer, where their four children were born (Stella, Patrizia, Cristina and Paolo). Unfortunately Patrizia suffers for a severe mental desease and Cristina for other health problems, so Pina spends long periods in hospitals with her little daughters.

Difficult Moments 

Among all these hard worries, her marriage is beginning to show signs of strain,  until Franco leaves his wife and children and goes away with another woman. Pina is alone and in a difficult situation: she is 38,  with four young children. After a period of confusion and uncertainty, she decides to return to Macomer, where her family lives.

Returning to Macomer  and living near her family offers Pina new energy, and she can  reorganize her life. Her husband gives her money for the children, but she wishes to buy their own house, so she  starts working at a small dressmaker's. She woks there for some years, until she suceeds in buying the house where she still lives.

Unfortunately,  life troubles are not finished for Pina yet: she  has to face a deep sorrow caused by her son's sudden death.  She can't stop, however, and tries to recover moral strength becauase her daughter Patrizia still neeeds  help.

Present Life

Pina frequently goes to a  Centre for handicapped children with her daughter Patrizia and cooperates with operators and volunteers  in the various activities carried on there. Recently, she has organized  a fundraising in order to buy a heat pump for the Center, in her dear son's name.

Pina suggests the young generations to have some goals in their life and  to commit themselves to reach them. A life without any aims is a limited life and it can flow ineffectually. But if you have a goal to reach and commit yourself in that, you become creative and constructive and your life, even with troubles,  flows  quiet, interesting and satisfying.

Gina Botta