On 17 to 19 December, the Fatebenefratelli Foundation for Research and Health and Social Education (Tiber Island) hosted the parties to the SAVE (Support and treatment of traumatized children After ViolencE) Project, designed by the Hospitality Europe office and funded by the European Union. The project involves three centres of the Hospitaller Order: the Sant Joan De Déu Hospital (Barcelona, Spain), the Fatebenefratelli Foundation for Health and Social Research and Training (Rome, Italy), the Barmherzige Brüder gemeinnützige Krankenhaus GmbH hospital Regensburg, Germany), as well as the Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital (Rome, Italy).

This project sets out not only to improve and enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in the sensitive area of child violence, but also to develop an appropriate support programme to meet the psychological and physical needs of the victims and their families. The partner hospitals will draft a protocol jointly with their local authorities to encourage the public to report violence, and facilitate ever more timely action by the police and the courts in their countries.

Following on from the Kick-off Meeting in Barcelona on 17-18 October 2019, the Rome event on 17-19 December was the International Training Workshop for Trainers, to provide training for nine "trainers" (three for each country involved) who will then be able to inform and train a further sixty healthcare workers (twenty per country) in the areas covered by the project.

Our Regensburg colleagues addressed the question of how to approach child victims or witnesses of violence (in this specific case, among child migrants) and explained European legislation to combat and prevent child violence. Neuropsychologists and psychologists from the Bambin Gesù Hospital addressed the biomedical aspects, ranging from the biological effects of trauma to the differential diagnosis as between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD). They also explained how to use assessment tools and activate treatment pathways for at-risk families, based on the MacMaster method, which is recognised as one of the most effective means of addressing relationship difficulties within families. Psychologists and social workers from the “Anti-Violence Centre for Exposed People” (Anti-Violenza per Persone Esposte) of the Fatebenefratelli Foundation – Tiber Island described the model with which they take in, support and care for the victims of violence who turn to the centre for help.

The working group worked very well together and created a very good climate that facilitated the exchange of knowhow and experience. The success of the event was certainly also due to the hospitality of the Prior of the San Giovanni Calibita-Fatebenefratelli Hospital on Tiber Island, who explained the milestones marking out the long and rich history of the Hospital and guided the group through its archaeological and artistic treasures.

This project will continue to implement the activities that have been thoroughly planned to cover the next two years leading up to its conclusion in September 2021.