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From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution

A Fiat 500, two young activists and millions of (children's) dreams

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


That many Fiat 500 drivers have compassion for the needs of the little ones, the poor and the weak, is not a big secret. Whoever drives a classic Fiat 500 rather than a swanky horsepower monster has his heart in the right place. But dropping everything and leaving, only to go in favor of a charitable purpose for a longer-month journey into the unknown, is certainly something very special, even for a Fiat 500 driver.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


Luca Bonventre (31) and Andrea Bonventre (27) do just that. For six months now, the two are on the road with their little Fiat 500. Under the motto "BeRevolution" they collect donations for the Forma Onlus organization in favor of the Children's Hospital Regina Margherita in Turin, as well as  paintings and drawings of children showing their own personal dreams of the future. Finally, both want to prove with their Fiat 500 that also in our day and age dreams are still possible and with their project "A 500. Millions of dreams" they want to participate to fulfill dreams and to conjure a smile on the face of needy children.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500 From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photos courtesy of BeRevolution


Luca and Andrea are cousins; both travel enthusiastically and are convinced Fiat 500 fans. Like the Fiat 500 more than 50 years ago, their project arose from a dream. In the beginning there was this jocular question of how far one probably could go on the streets of the world with a Fiat 500. Would a trip from Italy to Tokyo / Japan without prolonged interruption be possible? But from the joke it quickly became serious and the plan came up to turn the idea into an adventure.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


During this time, Luca and Andrea met Forma Onlus. This is an apolitical and religiously neutral association of families, founded in 2005 with the aim to support the Children's Hospital Regina Margherita in Turin. Because Lucas girlfriend, who sadly passed away much too early in 2013, shortly after her 30th birthday, was working as a kindergarten teacher at the Moby Dick kindergarten in Turin, they took the decision to devote to the planned trip to Tokyo to her major concern to help children in need.Luca and Andrea therefore decided to collect donations for Forma Onlus with the aim to reach the amount of 78,000 euros. This money is intended to enable Forma Onlus and the Children's Hospital to acquire much-needed new medical equipment to make the children stay in hospital more pleasant and to improve their quality of life through fun and games.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


After they crossed half of Europe and Turkey, the journey went on over Iran and the United Arab Emirates to India. Everywhere Luca and Andrea were welcomed with open arms, everywhere they got a friendly smile for them and their project, doors were opened or they got a place to sleep. Fortunately, the little Fiat 500 has a heart where normally the engine is located. And so Luca and Andrea went more than 15,000 Km on their little Cinquecento. But to Tokyo, the destination of their journey, there is still a long way to go.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500 From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photos courtesy of BeRevolution


The two activists were particularly impressed by the enormous attention they got on each and every station of the journey. Above all, their visit to the Saudi-German Hospital in Dubai will be surely remembered. Because here they were welcomed from the Italian consul and family, the entire hospital staff, including hospital management with the words: "Thank you for making this a special day for our boys." But they could very quickly pass on the gratitude when they saw how much love and passion was given to the young patients at this hospital. With their luggage full of children's dreams and the knowledge, that boundaries are drawn entirely by adults, they went on to the Arabian Peninsula towards India.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


And again Luca and Andrea were surprised: A Million Colours, everywhere the smell of freshly baked bread, all the energy, all the hustle and bustle everywhere. And on top of that children's eyes as bright as they would reflect the sky. Luca and Andrea quickly felt the energy of a billion beating hearts that bring up a dance rhythm, which is so powerful that sometimes it’s even exhausting. Fortunately, the two are always ready to be surprised and taken by the magic of the moment.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500 From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500 From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photos courtesy of BeRevolution

Tour successfully brought to a conclusion - one year filled with (childhood) dreams in a Fiat 500

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


Since July 2016, 370 days after they had commenced their journey, Andrea and Luca are now back in Europe. Upon arrival at Malpensa airport in Milano (the Fiat 500 was transported back in a container), they did not know who to embrace first, since so many friends and relatives were awaiting them. During all the commotion, they weren't even able to read what had been written across all the signs and banners being held up. They were simply overjoyed to be back home. The past year felt like only a day gone by – although the journey in their heart would certainly never end.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


After a year's trip, Andrea and Luca were able to draw up a very positive summary: altogether, they had covered a distance of 26.890 kilometers without any major technical difficulties whilst crossing 14 states, consuming about a hundred gas tanks full of petrol and being held up by police eight times – although five of those times, the police simply wanted to have their picture taken next to the little Fiat 500. Along the way, about 5.000 EUR worth of donations were raised in behalf of Forma Onlus and the great dream of journeying all the way to Tokyo, whilst collecting hundreds of children's dreams captured on drawings and paintings.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


Of course, this entire adventure would not have been possible without the main protagonist of this personal road-movie: their Fiat 500. The car had become their home during this 370-day-venture, their most trusty fellow companion, a „true friend“ - as the two expressed it – with whom they shared many, many kilometers full of marvels.

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution


"This is BeRevolution, dear Ladies and Gentlemen, from Torino to Tokyo in a 1965 Fiat 500", wrote Andrea and Luca upon completing their mega-tour. "We hope you enjoyed the show!"

Yes, the Axel Gerstl team truly did enjoy the show and from the bottom of our heart: We thank you!

From Italy to Japan in a Fiat 500
Photo courtesy of BeRevolution