In Caivano a space for welcoming and listening.
In the municipal spaces of the Association Un'Infanzia da Vivere, the LGBT+ Anti-discrimination Center "Codice Rainbow" of the municipality of Caivano (NA) was inaugurated yesterday.
At the ribbon cutting Lucia Fortini, Regional Councilor for Social Policies and Valeria Ciarambino, Vice President of the Regional Council of Campania. The institutional greetings of Fortini and Ciarambino were followed by those of Vincenzo Falco, Mayor of Caivano, and Maria Giuseppina Bervicato, Councilor for Equal Opportunities and Youth Policies of the Municipality of Caivano.
The “Rainbow Code” project, funded by the National Office against Racial Discrimination on PON inclusion FSE 2014-2020, was born from the synergy between the Municipality of Caivano and the private social sector, in particular with the LGBT+ Association Pochos Napoli, the Genere Identità e Cultura Foundation, ECO Società Cooperativa Sociale, Qualifica Group Formazione e Lavoro Srl and the Association “Un'infanzia da vivere”.
Codice Rainbow Caivano provides LGBT+ people discriminated against for their sexual orientation or gender identity with a Telephone Assistance Service, Rainbow Line (active 24 hours a day), and offers both a series of services to support them and help them overcome conditions of social and economic fragility, as well as diversified paths capable of providing the appropriate means for integration into the city reality. The Center against discrimination operates in the municipal spaces of the Association "Un'Infanzia da Vivere" of the Parco Verde and in those of the Municipal Library.
The Mayor and his councilor have launched an appeal to the Caivano residents to approach the active desks not only to those who have suffered discrimination, but also to families and anyone else who wants to get information, since the issue of rights and discrimination knows no social and urban boundaries.
Councilor Fortini highlighted: “Finally, the human being is placed at the center of attention, each with their own characteristics, free to express themselves and not forced to be what they are not. Starting from Caivano is particularly symbolic. The place from which we begin with respect to what will have to be a cultural change in the approach. A further step after a series of centers that are opening. The Presidency of the Council of Ministers has confirmed that Campania has responded in an impressive way to the projects that can help people in difficulty”.
In fact, the Campania region is the first in Italy to boast several LGBT centers.
Mayor Falco emphasized that Codice Rainbow Caivano is a laboratory of education to feelings to make people understand that differences are a wealth and not a problem, and that it is one of the most important objectives, especially in these territories on the outskirts of big cities.
In her speech, the Vice President of the Regional Council of Campania, Valeria Ciarambino, stated: "We want to accompany not only the boys and girls, who need to find an adequate welcome to deliver their experiences, but also teachers and parents. The goal is to create together a new culture against all types of discrimination."
UNAR Director Mattia Peradotto reiterated the commitment of the National Office for Racial Discrimination and the Department for Equal Opportunities of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the fight against all forms of discrimination, violence and intolerance. Precious interventions by Bruno Mazza for Un'infanzia da Vivere, who recalled the daily effort and commitment of the association in the Parco Verde, and by Prof. Paolo Valerio, for the GIC Foundation, who left an appeal to the Campania Region to institutionalize the path of closeness to LGBT+ people and, in particular, to transgender and gender fluid people, reiterating the central role of public counseling centers and excellence such as the “Incontra” counseling center in Portici. Also present were Giuseppe Agus for Qualifica Group, the partner that will handle all the activities related to the world of work and the possible job placement of discriminated or marginalized individuals, and Orsola Apolloni, for Eco Società Coopertiva sociale – legally represented by Barbara Graziani – the project partner that will follow all the aspects related to the promotion and communication of the center.
Moderating the meeting was Antonello Sannino, project coordinator and contact person for Pochos Napoli, who recalled the “magic” of this association, Pochos precisely, which after a 10-year journey, born from a small group of friends animated by the desire to play football and overcome prejudices about sexual identity in the world of sport, today finds itself the protagonist of an Anti-Discrimination Center in the Parco Verde together with national, regional and territorial institutions: a garrison of civilization, cultural, political and social avant-garde.
The mission of the Codice Rainbow Caivano project, in fact, is precisely that of creating a strong and coherent network, capable of providing a valid system of reception, listening and support to LGBT+ people in the Caivano area and in general in the metropolitan area of Naples.
Article published on 11 February 2023 - 11:20
