Social prevention: the role played by foundations
To mark European Foundations Day, 150 projects will be presented to tackle the crisis of isolation and loneliness amongst older people and young people
One hundred and fifty projects across Italia focusing on prevention, social interaction and community. These are the events forming part of the “Chi ben comincia” initiative, promoted by Acri (the association of banking foundations and savings banks) and Assifero (philanthropic organisations) to mark the 14th European Day of Foundations.
“The 150 projects represent a small fraction of the thousands of initiatives underway across Italia, thanks to third-sector organisations with the support of foundations,” Acri emphasises. These diverse initiatives are united by the aim of intervening before problems become emergencies and of tackling isolation and loneliness amongst young people, older people and those in vulnerable circumstances. These include spaces for socialising and community life, counselling and guidance services, inclusive cultural and sporting activities, projects to combat loneliness, and support services for families, carers, young people and the elderly.”
The SWG survey on social prevention
The campaign will run until 1 October, concluding in Milan on European Foundations Day with an event at which the results of the new SWG survey, ‘Awareness and the Value of Social Prevention’, will be presented. The survey was carried out to explore how Italians interpret the concept of prevention today and what role they attribute to relationships, participation and community life in people’s well-being.
“During the meeting, which will be attended by the presidents of Acri and Assifero, Giovanni Azzone and Antonio Danieli,” the organisers emphasise, “there will also be presentations by some of the organisations that have joined the campaign, to demonstrate in practical terms how social prevention takes shape at a local level”. Among the key figures at the event will be Irma Testa, world boxing champion, who will take part in a discussion focusing on the value of relationships, opportunities and community in the journey towards growth and inclusion.
The SWG survey, in particular, ‘explores the extent to which Italians associate prevention not only with health and care, but also with the possibility of forming meaningful relationships, participating in social life and being able to rely on places and opportunities to meet others’.
