Another project involving several of the Order's centres in Europe resumed its activities in-person after a two- years pre-pandemic gap. I am referring to the VICTORIA project, funded by the European Commission in 2019 for the specialised training of social and health workers who care for vulnerable people (the disabled, people with mental health problems, migrants, etc.) who have also been victims of violence.

VICTORIA is the acronym of the project name: “VICTims of violence Overstep Reluctance and Isolation through Adult education”) coordinated by the Juan Ciudad Foundation in Madrid.

On 22 and 23 November, the project partners met once again in Brescia at the St Richard Pampuri Night Shelter, after having continued their activities remotely and in virtual mode throughout the period of the health emergency.

The partners discussed their individual work on producing the 'intellectual products' of the project: a transnational protocol for the socio-educational support of adult victims of violence; a specialisation course for healthcare professionals on victim support; a vademecum to continuously monitor the progress and social reintegration of the people in our care.

The participants were shown and shared their experiences with the St Richard Pampuri Night Shelter, which hosts and accompanies migrants and refugees – including children – who arrive in Europe after being traumatised by their  experience of war in their homelands or while trying to reach safety by migrating.

Due to the constraints imposed by the pandemic, the European Commission has extended the duration of this project until 30 April 2022. The next meeting will be planned and convened depending on how the pandemic proceeds in the coming months, and on how safe it is to travel and meet again.

The VICTORIA project has been funded with support from the European Commission.