Final event of the project “Carcere senza barriere”: “An extremely positive experience”
“Now we can say that the society considers us even if we are in prison”. It is the best way to express the meaning of the project “Carcere senza barriere” (i.e. Prison without Barriers). It was a basic medicine and assistance course for caring the disabled and aged people organised in collaboration with the NIHMP for the detainees of Rebibbia prison. The course was planned and managed by the NIHMP staff, including about fifteen teachers – doctors, nurses, biologists, psychologists, anthropologists and cultural mediators – and two tutors, Rita del Gaudio and Marta Mearini. Out of 360 detainees, it was addressed to more than 40 women and provided a 3-week session for each group, it was held between February and May 2011.
“An extremely positive experience” – said Dr. Concetta Mirisola, Chief Executive Director of the NIHMP, who participated in the final event– it puts into practice the mission of our Institute and it involved the staff both from an emotional and professional point of view”.
The success of the training course derives from the type of course, providing interactive meetings, group works and role play, the ability and the humane manners of teachers and the choice of the final objective, indeed, caregivers are a very requested figure in Italy today.
The managing staff of the prison, namely dr Zainaghi, dr Del Grosso and dr Pedote, appreciated the initiative and expressed their will to continue organising similar actions.
But the most important opinion is that of the detainees. Silvana, an Italian gipsy, said: “During this ceremony, similar to a gipsy marriage, we received not only a certificate, but a new dignity and the capacity of being useful for disadvantaged people and for the society”.
