A quiet and functional convent contains a sunny courtyard and a cheerful community kitchen: it is a place that inspires strength and calm at the same time. It is also an address, unique in Campania, which heals with a bundle of energy of action and the strength of empathy.
Located in the Chiaia district, it is the home of Ithaca Project.
INSIGHTS
It hosts a miracle that has no equivalent in Italian public or private assistance: the Itaca Club where from Monday to Thursday until 5pm, its “members” meet, live, have lunch and experiment in workshops and all-round training.
From the arts to language, from artistic craftsmanship to poetry up to approaching the world of work and specific training plans. In common, a very special card: having recognized that they suffer from a mental disorder and the willingness to face it in order to return to a full life. To complete socio-work rehabilitation.
The Itaca Napoli club, managed by Gennaro Rederis just one of the great solidarity interventions of the Progetto Itaca Foundation, active in Milan since 2012 and which has a total of 17 branches throughout Italy: a support network and care carried out with the sole strength of its qualified volunteers and a parterre of private donors.
The Italian Foundation promotes information, prevention, support and rehabilitation programs aimed at people suffering from mental health disorders and their families.
In addition to the incredible and tangible work of the Clubs which have allowed hundreds of members to return to a full life, there is the Listening Line, a toll-free number reachable from landline (800 274 274) and mobile (02 29007166) active from Monday to Friday from 9am to 10pm (email linea.editore@progettoitaca.org): provides nationwide telephone reception for people suffering from mental distress and their families. Offers empathetic listening and support to the person and orientation in the world of mental health services. The Listening Line receives and manages over 10,000 requests a year.
The School Project (active since 2000) in 22 years has brought dozens of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, volunteers and professionals in the sector to Italian schools where they met school authorities, families and thousands of young students throughout Italy.
The aim of this intervention, which is more of a priority in our times, is to “know to prevent”. Where prevention and information become the keys to school inclusion, as well as restoring well-being and showing the way to a full and satisfying life again, even for those already affected by mental suffering. Over 17,000 students are involved in the School Project annually.
The Naples office, presided over by the Arch. Fabio Pignatelli della Leonessa celebrates 10 years of activity this year and has 48 members, 12 of whom are active volunteers involved in the daily activities of the Organization.
The members of the Itaca Napoli Club are currently 65 with an average of 25 children and adults most active in daily participation.
Throughout Italy, over 700 children are enrolled in the Itaca Clubs, and over 14,000 people are assisted in other activities.
The autumn agenda of Progetto Itaca Napoli is full of excitement: fundraising, cultural and scientific events open to the general public, political decision makers and professionals with the Club members and their families at the centre.
After a well-attended fundraising dinner, offered on the occasion of the anniversary of the Patron Saint of Naples by the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy, Itaca Napoli involved the citizens in the celebration of the Mental Health Day established by the World Health Organization on Thursday 10 October.
The monumental Neptune Fountain located in Piazza Municipio was illuminated on the initiative of the Municipality of Naples for “Let’s turn on the lights” on mental distress.
Every year in conjunction with Mental Health Day, Itaca chooses irony and a direct and inclusive language by organizing Tutti Matti per il Riso both Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October with the distribution of parcels of rice (which can also be received at home) and the presence of qualified volunteers to raise awareness among citizens and to help eliminate the stigma surrounding people with mental health problems.
In Naples, appointments in Piazza Santa Caterina da Siena, in Piazza San Pasquale (Chiaia) and in via Scarlatti (Vomero) from 9.30 to 14.30 with the special participation of the digital chef Lulù Gargari, testimonial for 2024.
With an audience of 350,000 followers on Instagram, she is the author of Butterflies in the Stomach and Nothing But the Truth. Born in 1997, before becoming a chef she was an actress for advertising and TV series. Lulù takes the baton from those who preceded her in previous editions and takes care of the social challenge personally #tuttimattiperilriso involving his followers in creating recipes with rice to talk about mental well-being without stigma.
He started the challenge signing a special and original pumpkin risotto whose recipe is distributed in all Italian squares.
What’s new for All Mad for Rice 2024 they don’t end here. The Artist’s Milk initiative unites two non-profit organisations, Progetto Itaca and UltraBlu, committed to combating stigma and stereotypes towards people living with vulnerability.
The collaboration involves the creation of 2,000 limited edition canseach with a design born from the creativity of UltraBlu’s neurodivergent artists.
Every can and every kg of rice it contains represents the hope of living a full and dignified life, and concrete help to many people to be reborn from the disease they live with. Anyone who wants to donate and will not be present in the squares of Naples or the rest of the country can entrust their contribution online to the Ithaca channel on Amazon Charity and secure a can and rice for mental well-being.
Saturday 26 October 2024 Pio Monte della Misericordia hosts an important day dedicated to mental health conceived and promoted by Itaca Napoli which recounts the successes and goals two years after the important challenge launched by Itaca: founding a public alliance.
The day full of events opens with an inaugural discussion, moderated by Titta Fiore, between the President of the Campania Region, Vincenzo de Luca, the Mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi and other guests including the national president of Itaca Felicia Giagnotti, the General Secretary of Itaca Ughetta Radice Fossati and the president of Itaca Napoli Fabio Pignatelli. The intense day of debates and workshops ends with a toast at 1pm.
On the occasion of ten years since the establishment of Progetto Itaca Napolithe day focuses on sharing this goal with representatives of the institutions, health professionals and the associative world and the partners who in various capacities have accompanied Itaca Napoli in recent years. Ten intense years during which, thanks to the collaboration between health professionals and volunteers, Itaca raised awareness of issues related to mental health to break taboos and stigma, promote prevention and early intervention against psychological disorders.
The intent is to renew the alliance for mental health, proposed by Itaca Napoli in March 2022, during the conference A community for mental health and sanctioned today by the sixth mission of the PNRR, called Taking care of mental health and by the third objective of the UN Agenda 2030 which concerns the promotion of well-being and mental health.
Among the interventions we highlight that of Dario D’Ambrosifounder of Teatro Pathologico and of Gennaro Rederdirector of Club Itaca Napoli.
Among the workshops we highlight the stupendous mise-en-scene of the Piccolo Teatro in Libertà company born within the Club Itaca Napoli with the care of Emanuela Zincone, Something great novel edited by the members of the Club Itaca Napoli born within the creative writing course and published by Rogiosi editore with the care of Demetrio Baffa Trasci; in addition to the Poetry workshop curated by Bianca Varelli. Without forgetting the artistic craftsmanship with the jewels created by the members of the Itaca Club curated by Imma Marra.
A round table open to contributions from citizens and led by Titta Fiore will take stock of interdisciplinary collaboration for the promotion of mental health.