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MISSION & VALUES

Soleterre envisions a world where the universal right to health is realized, transcending social, economic, and cultural disparities. Our foundation is dedicated to a holistic understanding of health, encompassing psycho-physical and social well-being. In addition to ensuring medical care and assistance, Soleterre actively safeguards and promotes the overall well-being of individuals worldwide, regardless of their social conditions.

Our commitment extends globally, intervening wherever inequity, inequality, and violence impede the right to health. We firmly believe that health is a form of social justice.

In 2023, Soleterre spearheaded 67 projects across 8 countries, including Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Uganda, Morocco, Ivory Coast, El Salvador, and Burkina Faso. This multi-faceted approach allowed us to support 27 health centers, manage 7 family-home, and initiate 7 medical-scientific research projects. Our dedicated team of 57 headquarters staff in Italy collaborated with 77 external professionals, comprising a total of local staff members, were deployed abroad.

The collective impact of these projects reached 69.319 individuals, providing them with essential treatments, training, and interventions, fostering positive change and advancing the cause of health as a fundamental human right.

PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

In 2022, Soleterre launched a Humanitarian Emergency program in response to the war in Ukraine. The program provided vital services, including medical, psychological, housing, and food support, to displaced individuals, children with cancer, and war-wounded, alongside their families. Collaborating with partners, the program evolved into a comprehensive set of interventions covering care, training, assistance, and awareness initiatives.

The conflict in Ukraine severely impacted the healthcare system, particularly for children with cancer. Leveraging its presence since 2003, Soleterre immediately treated children in dire conditions and facilitated their evacuation through the SAFER Ukraine program. Simultaneously, the organization responded to the harsh winter conditions and lack of amenities by providing emergency response services, distributing necessities, and rehabilitating housing for families from war zones.

In Poland, Soleterre is recognized as a benchmark for mental health support, with a team of psychologists and cultural mediators assisting Ukrainian refugees in various settings. Concurrently, as medical evacuation flights are organized, Soleterre stands prepared to welcome oncology patients from Ukraine. “Casa Soleterre” in Pavia provides housing and support for families near the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo.

On July 8th, 2024 Russian shelling targeted Okhmatdyt Pediatric Hospital in Kyiv, where Soleterre has been caring for children with cancer and those affected by the conflict. These children, already battling severe illnesses and injiuries, faced the added trauma of war and displacement. Soleterre safely evacuated pediatric patients to secure locations for uninterrupted medical care and provided psychological support to children and families to cope with the trauma.

On September 8, 2023, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco, causing over 2,900 deaths and 5,000 injuries, primarily in Marrakesh and surrounding villages. Many affected include children with cancer receiving treatment at Mohamad VI Hospital. Since the quake, Soleterre has been helping children and their families receiving psychological support at the hospital and hospitality at the Soleterre Home. Additionally to urgent assistance to the paediatric oncology department and funds to help young patients for chemotherapy medicines, the team of psychologists has been strengthened to support patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers. At the same time, we continue to provide technical assistance and support to the villages in the High Atlas affected by the earthquake through psychologists, social workers and community-based psychosocial supporters, as well as funds for primary needs such as food and school kits, the reconstruction of homes to complement the contribution of the Moroccan Government, and recreational and educational activities for children and adolescents.

In 2024 Soleterre started to provide support for children with cancer in Palestine at the Beit Jala Governmental Hospital near Betlemme, focusing on both mental health and economic help. The ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank has caused a severe humanitarian crisis and pediatric cancer patients are especially at risk, as the conflict and restricted mobility delay access to treatment. Children face long journeys due to checkpoints and road closures and their mental health is worsening as the conflict intensifies.

HEALTH

ONCOLOGY

In 2022, we celebrated the 12th anniversary of the ‘Great Against Cancer’ international program for pediatric oncohematology. Started in Europe (Italy and Ukraine) the program has expanded its reach to Africa, including Ivory Coast, Uganda, Morocco, and Burkina Faso, with plans to extend further, beginning with El Salvador.

Aligned with the 2018 goals set by the World Health Organization through the ‘Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer,’ our program strives to reduce the number of affected children and increase global survival rates by up to 60%. This initiative works towards bridging the social inequality gap between the North and South of the world.

‘Great Against Cancer’ embraces an integrated approach, ensuring the rights and access to care at every stage of the disease. Our commitment extends beyond medical care, offering comprehensive support to each child and their family. This support spans from accessing quality care to enhancing social quality of life and psycho-physical well-being.

We are proud of our achievements, having assisted 2,868 children and parents worldwide in their daily battle against cancer. Through on-the-ground activities and services, our program continues to to make a meaningful impact, fostering hope and resilience.

MENTAL HEALTH

After firsthand experience on the frontlines of the Covid-19 wards at Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, Fondazione Soleterre has established a nationwide network of psychologists and psychotherapists. The aim is to provide psychological support throughout Italy to individuals facing psychological challenges.

To ensure that psychological support is accessible to the entire population, we have decided to offer the service free of charge to the most vulnerable groups, including minors, oncology patients, Covid-19 patients, individuals with severe traumas, and those facing economic difficulties.

Simultaneously, to maintain a service that is as extensive, fair, and sustainable as possible, we have implemented a suggested minimum donation of 40 Euros per session for the rest of the population.

SOCIAL & WORKING INCLUSION

Soleterre ONLUS is actively committed to socio-professional inclusion, creating opportunities and support for individuals facing occupational challenges. Through a multidisciplinary approach, our organization promotes vocational guidance, training, counselling and employment integration, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, minors, oncology patients, individuals with severe traumas, and those facing economic difficulties. We work to ensure that everyone has access to meaningful employment opportunities, thereby contributing to building a more inclusive and supportive society.

WORK IS PROGRESS

Work Is Progress is the Soleterre Foundation program dedicated to viable employment opportunities for the most vulnerable, and is active in Italy, French-speaking Africa and Central America.
Our aim is to enable everyone to find work and keep it over time.
For more than 10 years we have been taking care of the needs of the individual and his or her family to improve the living conditions of those who turn to us.

In 2022, the “Work is Progress” program experienced a significant expansion of activities to support individuals facing employment challenges. Leveraging 6 operational centers, a dedicated team of 28 professionals, and an advisory board consisting of 5 pro bono managers from major corporations, the program implemented targeted actions to promote employment in four countries: Italy, Morocco, El Salvador, and Ivory Coast.

Across these locations, the program provided comprehensive services, including initial information, professional guidance, job search assistance, skill development training, and technical-organizational consultations for those interested in developing independent micro-business activities, both individually and collectively.

In an effort to bridge the gap between job demand and supply, on-site services were complemented by online services. This approach ensured continuity in individual job search journeys and facilitated participation for users residing in areas physically distant from the program’s territorial offices.

Embracing a multidisciplinary approach and addressing the diverse needs of individuals, the program, with its team of professionals from various fields, not only guided users through job insertion or reintegration but also initiated a variety of initiatives aimed at enhancing overall well-being and inner security.

These initiatives encompassed psychological support, legal assistance actions, personalized coaching, life skills reinforcement, support in migration journeys, and, in communities experiencing violent conflicts, educational interventions for the prevention of violence and school dropout. The program’s holistic efforts are dedicated to improving the integral well-being and security of the individuals it serves.

WHERE WE ARE – MAP

HOW TO SUPPORT US – PARTNER WITH US

Soleterre is a humanitarian organization that works TOGETHER with lots of different stakeholders, fully aware that real social impact can be achieved only trough collaboration and by sharing expertise and resources.

Through the years, Soleterre has gained credibilty and support by national and international Institutional Partners like the European Union, the UN agencies system, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National and Regional Italian authorities, and extended networks of different faith-based institutions (all religions) because of its track-record of transparent reporting and capacity to deliver results within complex multidimensional programs.

Soleterre has also a growing network of Philantropic Foundations (from Italy to the US, from Switzerland to other European Countries) supporting its intervention. Being able to dialogue with the philantropic ecosystem requires respect, flexibility, data-driven approach and a diligent reporting on the use of funds.

Similarly Soleterre has a growing number of Corporates willing to support its projects as a part of their corporate social responsibility. National and Global Companies like Soleterre because they invest on projects that deliver real social impact, engage employees and build corporate image.

If you want to open a dialogue and find together the best way to collaborate, feel free to contact Aldo Velardi,  Head of High Value Giving.

DONATIONS