In 2004, in Carpi, a small counselling centre was founded, a safe space for women. Over time, it grew and, in 2013, it became Vivere Donna APS, which today follows approximately 200 women a year, also working in schools and businesses to promote education and prevention. Lucrezia Lanzani interviews Alice Degl'Innocenti, vice president of Vivere Donna APS, for FARE INSIEME Charity
FARE INSIEME CHARITY is the spin-off of the FARE INSIEME project dedicated to the presentation of some onlus and non-profit associations with roots in the area around Bologna, Ferrara and Modena and that carry out extraordinarily important and crucial work for the entire community. Here are some of their stories.
by Lucrezia Lanzani*
"Prevention: direct action to prevent the occurrence or spread of unwanted or harmful events."
In 2004, in Carpi, a group of women realised that gender-based violence in the area was much more widespread than they initially perceived. Thus, a small counselling centre was established, from a few people with limited resources, to begin creating a safe space. Over time, the centre grew, it became structured, and in 2013 it became Vivere Donna APS.
«At the time, we understood that what we were seeing was just the tip of the iceberg. No one could capture everything; we needed a place where women could speak without fear», begins vice president Alice Degl'Innocenti.
«I want to make this clear: becoming a counsellor is not an easy process; it requires at least 30 hours of initial training and 60 hours of support. This helps you learn to be in women's stories without judging them or making decisions for them, and to restore their autonomy», explains Degl'Innocenti.
The basic principle is just one: to believe. Without asking for justifications or proof. «A woman doesn't have to prove anything to be accepted», continues the vice president of Vivere Donna. «We don't ask a woman to bring documents, medical reports, or testimonies. We believe her. That's where it all starts: from listening and from respect. We're here to give her the tools, not to tell her what to do.»
Today, Vivere Donna follows around 200 women a year. The forms of violence are changing and often aren't immediately visible. «In recent years, we've seen a lot of psychological control: isolation, emotional blackmail, financial control. It's not always a bruise, but the damage is tangible. When a woman comes to us, she's often already spent months, if not years, in a relationship that wears her down every day», emphasises Alice Degl'Innocenti.
Over the years, Vivere Donna APS has increasingly expanded its work in the community, entering schools and businesses. «It's essential to work on prevention; we can't intervene only when violence has already exploded», emphasises the vice president. That's why the association brings workshops and training programmes directly into the everyday contexts of young people and adults.
In schools, the goal is to bring out what often remains the norm. «When we talk to students and give examples of psychological control, many recognise themselves in dynamics they didn't think were problematic», she explains. The programmes address topics, such as personal boundaries, consent, healthy relationships, and language.
On the corporate front, the association organises specific training sessions for workers and managers. «Violence never stays outside the office: it affects concentration and professional relationships», says Alice Degl'Innocenti. Companies are supported in recognising the signs and creating clear internal procedures. «Many women tell us that the first sign of salvation was someone at work who was able to listen to them without judgement», continues the vice president of Vivere Donna.
«If we don't educate about relationships based on respect, we will continue to see too many women coming to us when the situation is already very serious. Prevention is not an afterthought: it is the only way to imagine a different future», concludes Alice Degl'Innocenti.
*Lucrezia Lanzani is a former student of Liceo Steam Emilia, who is now studying Communication Science at the University of Amsterdam. She is eighteen years old and has always been interested in social issues. For more than three years, she has been volunteering in various organizations in her community.
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