Mental health: Misericordie and Telefono Azzurro in the field for children affected by war

To strengthen collaboration and expand interventions to protect the health and well-being of children and adolescents living in situations of conflict, emergency, serious psycho-social distress and humanitarian crises, in Italy and in the international contexts most affected by war. This is the objective of the two-year memorandum of understanding presented by the president of SOS Il Telefono Azzurro Ets and Fondazione Child Ets, Ernesto Caffo, together with the president of the National Confederation of the Misericordie d'Italia, Domenico Giani. "An agreement that represents for the Misericordie d'Italia," explains Giani, "an important step in the construction of an increasingly solid network to protect children and adolescents living in situations of fragility, emergency and conflict. Our history teaches us to stand by those who suffer, especially at times when life becomes harder and more uncertain".

"Combining the skills of Telefono Azzurro and Fondazione Child with the territorial presence of the Confederation of the Misericordie means building solid, qualified and timely protection networks capable of responding effectively to the needs of children, adolescents and their families in conflict situations," added Ernesto Caffo. "Every action implemented always has as its priority the centrality of the child because in war situations it is precisely the youngest who are the first to see their fundamental rights cancelled.

The two-year agreement enables the strengthening of the missions and values that have always been at the heart of the three organisations, which thus build, through a shared commitment, a true network that has children and adolescents and the protection of their rights at its centre.

The National Confederation of the Misericordie d'Italia brings together over 700 confraternities throughout Italy, with more than 670,000 members, 100,000 of whom are actively engaged in works of charity and support for the most needy. The Misericordie offer health, civil defence and social protection services, and are also present in international solidarity missions, particularly in Ukraine and the Holy Land.

"Combining the capillarity and strength of the volunteer work of the Misericordie," Giani went on to elaborate, "with the specific skills of Telefono Azzurro and Fondazione Child means putting the rights of the youngest at the centre, offering concrete, timely and coordinated responses. It is a commitment that stems from the present, but looks to the future, with the conviction that taking care of children means taking care of the whole of humanity'.