The Trust has made a strong start to its £1m fundraising Appeal, with over £200,000 in donations received or pledged by the end of 2011.

The bulk of the money has been generously donated by major grant-giving bodies. Individual supporters have also made significant contributions, including one family that has kindly given £30,000 and undertaken to pay the salary of the Trust's professional fundraiser for one year.

However, as Sir Nicholas Young, the Trust's chairman, reminded supporters at the annual Fontanellato lunch in November 2011, when the Appeal was formally launched, there is a long and hard road ahead if the Trust is to reach its target of £1m. Fundraising events and commemorative Trails are planned to take place throughout 2012 in support.

The trustees decided to launch the Appeal in order to secure long-term funding for the study bursaries it awards to young Italians. Every summer since it was founded, the Trust has brought over approximately 20 Italian students to study at language schools in London and Oxford for one month, and to experience the British way of life. They often come from small villages in mountain areas where escaping prisoners of war found refuge after the armistice between Britain and Italy in September 1943. Many of the students experience life away from home for the first time. Many, too, come from families that sheltered PoWs.

The Trust sets great store by these bursaries, as a means of acknowledging the remarkable acts of bravery and generosity shown by the Italian country people – i contadini – at a time of great peril. Many of these Italians risked imprisonment and loss of property at the hands of the Germans and Italian Fascists: some even paid with their lives.

The bursaries have always been funded by the great generosity of donors to the Trust, many of whom have been former prisoners of war and family members. But, as the surviving escapers pass away, it becomes ever harder to keep up the fundraising year-in, year-out. 

The Trustees are, therefore, determined to establish a permanent fund, so that the future of this living gesture of thanks and appreciation can be assured.

Each Italian student costs the Trust £1,750 in tuition fees and accommodation. A £1 million endowment fund will enable us to cover these costs into the distant future. 

Mrs Sue Comber, who is an experienced fundraiser, is working with the Trust to approach individuals and organisations who share the Trust's values: a wish to repay, in a small way, a debt to the Italian people; and an eagerness to foster the warm relations between Britain and Italy.

The Appeal is being directed by a steering committee drawn from among the Trustees. It is chaired by Mr Vanni Treves, former chairman of Equitable Life (2001-09) and former chairman of Channel 4. He is currently chairman of the National Council for School Leadership and of several other organisations. He was appointed CBE in the New Year honours.

The other members of the Appeal Committee are: Sir Nicholas Young (chairman of Monte San Martino Trust; Hon. Letitia Blake (Trust secretary); Mr Nicholas Gent (Trust treasurer); and Mr John Simkins (newsletter editor and web administrator).

Mr Treves said: “The Trust marks the humanity and bravery of many humble farming families who shared what little they had with escaping Allied prisoners of war.

“My mother and I, although civilians, were on the run from the Germans too – my father was a partisan killed later in the liberation of Florence. For about a year, always on the move, we were sheltered daily, without payment, by strangers. Betrayal or indiscretion would have resulted in certain imprisonment and probable execution.

“We later generations will always owe a great debt. This Appeal will allow some of it to be repaid in perpetuity.”

Over the years, the Trust’s former students have gone on to have successful and worthwhile careers. One of them – Eleonora Diamanti, who had a bursary in 2001 and whose grandfather helped a soldier hidden near his home – said: “Learning English was essential as I've worked in several places abroad. A bursary enabled me to start this process of internationalisation that is really important, especially in small villages such as mine. I hope you'll keep on running this great initiative.”

Wishing the Appeal success, Signora Raffaella Del Greco, the daughter of Michele Del Greco, the Abruzzo shepherd shot dead in 1943 for helping 56 Allied prisoners of war, said: “I thank the Trust for the great commitment it shows in keeping alive the memories of those courageous Italians, like my father, who sheltered and befriended prisoners of war.”

The Trust is extremely grateful for contributions to the Appeal. Payments made be made online by clicking on the Appeal banner on the front page of the website. Cheques may be sent to:

Mr Nicholas Gent,  Hon. Treasurer, MSMT,  c/o Rathbones, 10 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4NT, UK