A Voice for the Voiceless: Meeting Rita Amabili, the Italian-Canadian Writer Fighting for Children's Rights, Interviewer: Shah Jehan Ashrafi

 

A Voice for the Voiceless: Meeting Rita Amabili, the Italian-Canadian Writer Fighting for Children's Rights

Interviewer: Shah Jehan Ashrafi

As I parked my car in her driveway on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, it felt as though I was arriving at a writer’s retreat. Rita Amabili’s home radiated a peaceful energy—serene, inviting, and as warm as the coffee she offered me upon arrival. Our conversation began almost immediately, naturally flowing into the subject of her life’s work: writing. A prolific Quebec-based author, Amabili is a force of compassion, creativity, and courage.

Her motto, “Et si nous étions solidaires”—“And if we were united…”—captures the essence of her literary mission. Her voice is one of solidarity and advocacy, particularly for human rights and the protection of children caught in the devastation of war. “I want people around the world to unite and speak out,” she told me with conviction. For Amabili, writing is both a refuge and a call to action.

A feminist by belief and a humanitarian by nature, Amabili’s background is as diverse as her bibliography. Trained in theology and nursing, she has written plays, poetry, children’s literature, and novels. She tackles controversial and often neglected subjects, refusing to shy away from discomfort if it means sparking awareness or change.

Born in Canada to an Italian family, Amabili proudly identifies as Italian-Canadian—a reflection of her deep admiration for her father. Her 2004 book, Guido, is a tribute to him. The novel chronicles her father’s journey from Offida, Italy to Canada in 1922, highlighting the hardships and resilience that shaped his life. Originally written in French and later translated into Italian, Guido was warmly received in Italy, earning Amabili a ceremonial coat of arms. Yet, when I asked her about the award, her eyes lit up more at the mention of Maurizio, a distant cousin and newfound family member from Offida. “He phoned us after doing research at the Affida Culture Office,” she said, smiling. “It was magical—he thought like me, shared my principles, and even grew up baking Italian cheesecakes like I did.”

Amabili’s commitment to children’s rights echoes powerfully through her writing. Her 1999 novel Voyage sur Angélica blends magic realism with grim reality. Angels, symbolic messengers of hope, soar through a world marred by war, trafficking, and abuse. Her congregation of angels and birds becomes a metaphor for the congregation of humanity she hopes to inspire—people united to protect the innocent. The book is more than fiction; it is a literary outcry against silence and indifference.

In Azag (2017), Amabili shifts her lens to Gaza, telling the story of Yahya, a boy who loses his family to war. The rubble-strewn land becomes both a graveyard and a workshop as Yahya and a friend build a robot from debris—a symbol of resistance and rebirth. “Art and writing,” Amabili believes, “can be used as tools to reverse ugliness and restore hope.” For her, storytelling is an act of reclaiming truth, especially the truths that are often left unspoken.

Her most recent publication, Poésies pour les Enfants Blessés, launched on June 26, 2025, is a powerful poetry collection that gives voice to the silenced children of Gaza. Each poem tells a story of pain, survival, and the urgent need for peace. When I asked what moved her to write it, she answered simply, “Someone had to talk about them.”

Rita Amabili is not just an author—she is a messenger. Through every book, she stitches together art, activism, and empathy. Her words are a refuge for the wounded, a rallying cry for justice, and a testament to the power of solidarity.