PMFORUM Breaking News

Reported by Ammar Mango in Amman

A star-studded line-up of artists will perform at next month's United Nations-backed memorial concert and ceremony in Jordan to honour the late Luciano Pavarotti, it was announced by the Italian tenor's widow at a press conference in Milan on 16 September. Andrea Bocelli (pictured below right) and Sting are among the luminaries of classical and pop music slated to play at the concert, which will take place next month on Mr. Pavarotti's birthday in Petra, the renowned World Heritage site in Jordan.

According to the United Nations, the funds raised will go to projects in Afghanistan focusing on the most vulnerable, mostly women and children, of the 5 million refugees returning from Pakistan, Iran and neighboring States to the eastern provinces of their country. These projects are jointly run by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The projects will include school building programmes; the provision of health, skills and literacy training; and the construction of micro-hydropower and irrigation canals to bring electricity and improve agricultural production in Afghanistan. The event will also be supported by Italy, who announced a donation of over 2 million euros for the joint UNHCP-WFP project in Afghanistan, and hosted by Princess Haya Bint al Hussein of Jordan.

"For over 10 years, until his death in September 2007, Maestro Pavarotti actively supported UNHCR projects in Kosovo, Pakistan, Zambia and Iraq," the agency said in a joint press release with WFP.

"UNHCR remembers the Maestro as a unique artist, an extremely generous man and a friend. Luciano Pavarotti was one of the greatest supporters of UNHCR’s work, using his amazing talents to raise awareness of refugee issues around the world," added Radhouane Nouicer (pictured at left), UNHCR Director of the Middle East and North Africa Office in Geneva.

"Millions of Afghans live in dire poverty. In particular returnees, who after many years arrive home needing everything: food, shelter and a future,” also noted Susana Rico, WFP director in Afghanistan. "The spirit of the great Maestro Pavarotti brings people together, even now. We will always remember him for his extraordinary efforts to help reach those in need."

Other musicians on the list of performers announced by Mr. Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, included Jovanotti, Zucchero, Laura Pausini, Angela Gheorghiu, Andrea Griminelli, Cynthia Lawrence and Roberto Alagna, and the concert will be conducted by Eugene Kohn.

Ammar Mango International Correspondent in Jordan Ammar W. Mango, PMP, CSSBB, is an International Correspondent for PMForum in Jordan. He is also principal consultant for Method Corporation, a project management consulting, product and services company based in Amman, Jordan. With over seventeen years of global experience in Project Management & Leadership consulting and training, he is considered an international expert on the subjects and enjoys a superb reputation as an inspirational trainer and consultant. Mr. Mango has provided his services in the United States and the Middle East to global organizations like Visteon Systems (USA), Ford Motor (USA), Detroit Edison (USA), Fermi II Nuclear Plant (USA), Qatar Petroleum (Qatar), Saudi Telecom Company (KSA), Al Fotaim Group (UAE) and many others. Mr. Mango is a published author and columnist on organizational leadership and project management. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Jordan University and a Master's Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. He has been certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute (PMI) since 1991, and as a Six Sigma Black Belt by the American Society for Quality. He served as Vice President, Education, PMI Great Lakes Chapter in 1993, and is the founder and currently active member of the PMI Jordanian Chapter. He has been a guest speaker at a number of international Project Management seminars and symposiums around the world. Information about Method Corporation can be found at http://www.methodcorp.com. Ammar can be contacted at amango@methodcorp.com.