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Una Vacanza Una Esperienza Per la pace

The Eni Foundation initiative that offered a holiday to Ukrainian children and their families.

A tangible support measure in the name of peace

From June to September 2022 the Eni Foundation, with the coordination of the regional structures of the Civil Protection Department, promoted the “Una Vacanza Una Esperienza Per la pace” initiative in collaboration with the D.O.C. s.c.s. cooperative in a number of tourist resorts in Piedmont, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and the Marche. The aim of the project was to host Ukrainian children and adolescents, together with their families, who had already been provided refuge in Italy for a period of holiday. With the support of educators, linguistic and cultural mediators, doctors and psychologists, the initiative followed a programme of recreational, study and sports experiences in nature.

Activities and specific goals of the initiative

“Una Vacanza Una Esperienza Per la pace” was an international solidarity project designed to reduce and mitigate the consequences of the war on Ukrainian children, youths and adults. Despite the language and cultural differences between the participants, the initiative aimed to create common ground and foster dialogue between the guests, carers and the community through universal languages like play, music, art and body movements.

To create a holiday experience suitable for all, the programme of activities took into account the specific needs, personal history and ages of every individual participant. As well as initiatives promoting the host regions and resorts, every holiday involved an in-depth Italian language course consisting of fifteen lessons lasting an hour and a half each taught by a schoolteacher and the coordination of an instructor for sports activities.
In addition, with the support of cultural mediators, there were intercultural activities, workshops and art courses with the following goals:

restoring the physical and mental well-being and balance of participants, encouraging them to express their problems and open up emotionally in order to rethink their lives and look to the future
meeting the host community, establishing a relationship and dialogue with which to reduce the gap that had formed between participants and their loved ones, their home and their culture
offering all participants, children and adolescents in particular, the opportunity to cultivate their passions and develop their skills, such as learning Italian, ahead of an unknown period of time in Italy and the start of the following school year
to guarantee, as far as possible, contact with relatives who had remained in Ukraine.

The venues selected

The facilities were well-established and located in safe, protected and welcoming environments. As well as the rooms and dining areas, the participants had workshops, art studios and large communal spaces.
A total of 1190 places were available, with holidays of 20 nights/21 days to offer guests a holiday experience of a suitable duration. No organisational activities or transportation were provided for guests to reach the facilities or take them back to the places where they were accommodated while in Italy.

The following facilities were involved in the project:

Ostello sul Mare in Cesenatico, in Emilia-Romagna
Villaggio Torre Marina resort in Marina di Massa, Tuscany
La Corte della Miniera holiday farm, Marche
Cascina Betlemme holiday farm in Moncucco Torinese, Piedmont
Olympic Village in Bardonecchia, Piedmont.

Psychological support and training for operators

An integral part of the project was the support for the activities of the social workers’ team provided by professional psychologists. These professionals helped social workers to interpret, understand and relay the significance of the conflict experienced by children and adolescents during their holiday while also assisting them with some moments of dialogue.

The care staff were also involved in multiple training activities aimed at various roles: managers, coordinators, entertainment staff, carers, support staff and medical teams. The courses focused on professional expertise, the responsibilities of all adults during the holidays, workplace safety and first aid.

A special focus was placed on the reporting, recognition and combating of bullying through the application of a management system consistent with the UNI/Pdr 42:2018 standard.

The project and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development

Like the other projects it has carried out across the world, this Eni Foundation initiative is inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. In particular: Goal 3, Zero Poverty (End poverty in all its forms everywhere); Goal 4, Quality Education (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all); Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels).