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There is an illuminated door that has continued to open onto hope and rebirth for forty years. It is that of the “Il Delfino” Solidarity Center, which yesterday celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a well-attended event at the Palacultura di Rende, hosted by the RAI journalist Antonio Lopez together with Valentina Luberto of the cooperative.
The initiative retraced four decades of activity in the area through the metaphor of forty interpretations. Each speaker brought their own precious contribution of ideas and testimonies to the stage. Opening the sequence of speeches, President Vincenzo De Luca retraced the history of the Delfino, projecting the cooperative’s path towards the future, in the name of the founding values of solidarity and volunteering.
Institutional, academic and healthcare interventions have offered high-profile reflections. Regional Councilor Pasqualina Straface passionately underlined the value of the work carried out by the Delfino and the constant commitment of regional policies in raising funds and implementing projects aimed at combating every form of dependence. SE Rosa Maria Padovano, Prefect of Cosenza, focused on the topic of immigration, recalling the central role and maximum responsibility of the Prefecture in the management and supervision of the CAS, an area in which Il Delfino is directly involved in the management of the Castiglione structure Cosentino.
Prof. Angela Costabile of the University of Calabria explored the psychological mechanisms of substance and behavioral addictions, showing a video created by her psychology students, while Dr. Roberto Calabria, Director of the Ser.D. of Cosenza, highlighted the importance of barrier-free healthcare and synergy with communities for prevention and recovery.
The words of the two religious men traced the ethical and spiritual horizon of the event. HE Mons. Giovanni Checchinato, Archbishop of Cosenza-Bisignano, recalled the value of listening and unconditional welcome. Particularly intense and moving for the entire room was the central intervention of H.Em. Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, Metropolitan Archbishop of Naples. The Cardinal offered a profound meditation starting from the importance of founding the future in the roots to truly meet people, remembering that “accompanying” means knowing how to stop next to those who stop along the way. Monsignor Battaglia recalled the need to combine technical competence with the strength of authentic and “face to face” relationships, placing the dignity of the person at the centre, so that freedom translates into responsibility towards others. Finally, he indicated gratuitousness and “giving hope” as the beating heart of social action, comparing it to the hidden wood of a plant: an invisible but essential nourishment that supports and gives beauty to life.
A strong symbol of the event was the large scenography door set up on the stage, handcrafted by the guests and operators of the REMS “Granieri” of Santa Sofia d’Epiro. All the speakers were given the Dolphin sculpture created in a special edition for the fortieth anniversary.
The “Il Delfino” Solidarity Center expresses profound gratitude and appreciation towards all the speakers for the value of their interventions, addressing a heartfelt thought to the Authorities, the Police Forces, the operators, the families and all the citizens who shared this important goal.