Category: News

By Lucia Caretti & Francesca Giannotti

It has happened many times in the last months, and it keeps on happening. 50 dollars from the United States, 1696 euros from Denmark, 20 dollars from New York in memory of “Leonardo, Florence and Peter emigrates from Castelfranco to the Bronx back in 1882”.  Alexander, from Moscow, donated 1500 Russian rubles : “It’s not much, but I want to help. Go Italy, don’t give up now!”.  This has been going on for the last 3 months, and it keeps on happening. The solidarity that we have received has gone beyond all boundaries. We have received almost 1500 donations from 67 different countries. This is 10% of the total donations (over 15 thousands) that the Foundation has received. All for a total of 9.9 million of euros.

From Guatemala to Bahrein, passing through Argentina, Finland, the Emirate states, Spain, Pakistan, Marocco, Bulgaria, Brazil, Slovakia, France: over 185 thousand euros, together with a warm hug to all of the Italians that are suffering during this tough time, have arrived from abroad. Together with this overwhelming solidarity we, as the Foundation La Stampa Specchio dei tempi, who for 65 years has worked to help different countries, in five continents, after natural disasters, have received further international recognition. When dealing with the pandemic, the entire world has supported our initiatives with small and bigger donation, accompanied by messages of support. You can find these here: specchiodeitempi.org/dediche. “Italy, with her music and movies, has changed my life. It has a special place in my heart therefore I wish to contribute” says Liew from Malaysia. An Eritrean man who lives in Norway has donated 200 euros and stated “I arrived back in 2006 by boat. Thank you for helping me during the toughest time of my life. You are a generous population. I am heartbroken to learn what your country is going through.” 100 euros have arrived from Iraq from Ammar, a doctor. Ali Said has done what he could by donating 2 euros accompanied by a heartwarming message: “I wish I could do more but I am a poor man from Turkey with a minimum salary”.

The home-made marathon
Everyone helps as they can. Some people also came up with unique initiatives to raise money in favor of Specchio dei tempi. Andrew Bannon is an example. The Irish speaker who lives in Bavaria, and has organized a marathon in his backyard to raise money in favor of Specchio dei tempi. The result was astonishing: 1000 laps and 2070 euros raised to demonstrate that “Europe is alive”.

Germany and the UK have been, up to now, the most generous countries after the United States. From our statistics we have received 75 donations for both European countries and 161 from the US. On top of that we have received over 400 donations from Global Giving, an institution for the americans.

The website translated in Chinese
Specchio has not only translated its website in English in order to keep all readers up to date, but also in Chinese in order for the Foundation to be know in the far East. This is how we have managed to reach 20 donors in Hong Kong and raised 6445 euros. Beijing has also been very generous as it has donated 60 thousand mask. These have been donated by a number of entrepreneurs that fell in love with the mountains of the Piedmont region.

This flow of donations hasn’t stopped yet. Forbes has listed Specchio as number one Onlus Foundation for donations in Italy. This was mainly due to the great work done on our social media pages but mostly due to the generous hearts of many special souls. The Buddhist monks have donated 10 thousand dollars. Nic Paton, the South African composer, has created a track to support Specchio dei tempi. It starts like this: “ Dedicated to our dear Italians. We are standing by your side”.

By Lucia Caretti & Francesca Giannotti

During the last two months, Specchio dei tempi has concentrated all of its strengths to help the healthcare unities in the fight against Covid-19, the schools, and the families in economical difficulty. Right now, that our country is slowly awakening from this coma during which many business and families have suffered due to the lack of work. These small enterprises are the beating heart of our Country. Each small business is essential to all of our regions, they highlight all our local products offering unique experiences not only to those to come to visit but also to the local citizens.

This is why Specchio dei tempi has decided to take action by announcing a grant for the small businesses of Piedmont with the goal to help 220 business in the area of Turin. 2.846 local business have requested the grant, and next week we’ll select the winners. 1.1 millions of euros have been dedicated to this project. This means that each of the 220 winning enterprises will receive a grant of  5.000 euros.

Another grant is now available to help the local artisanal and commercial businesses of the area of Cuneo and the Langhe. Up to today we have raised 220 thousands euros that will be divided equally between the winning enterprises.

By Angelo Conti & Francesca Giannotti

60 days ago Specchio dei tempi has accepted a new challenge by opening a subscription to help contrast the Coronavirus. This was something completely new, that has never been done before in 65 years of work, and that has marked our history. This time our mission wasn’t to reconstruct things after a calamity, or help someone in a moment of difficulty. This time we had to go and fight a battle. We had to immediately intervene to help those who were fighting in first line, but at the same time we had to keep an eye on the future: on the recovery of the schools and of the daily life of the families, the entire economic activities.

With the healthcare system we worked in perfect harmony. It was clear that the status of the Foundation gave us the opportunity to operate rapidly with the suppliers, compared to the public entities that were slowed down by the bureaucratic contracts and the difficult source of the materials. This is why we decided to start buying personal protection equipment not only from local suppliers, but also contacting companies from abroad like: Taiwan, China, Japan and the rest of Europe.

Our goal was to help our doctors, nurses and responders by supplying them with masks, coast, gloves and goggles, in order for them to do their job in total safety. We have managed  to provide 1,2 million PPEs,  and distributed them in no-time in the areas on Turin and the Piedmont Region. The materials stayed in our storage for a minimum amount of hours. We covered 19 hospitals and almost 200 public sanitary structures and charity associations. Contemporarily we supplied 2 CT machines, dozens of pulmonary ultrasounds, monitors, beds and furniture for the new intensive care units that were set up to cure the Covid patients.

On the social sector, we have donated 5.500 grocery bags to the elderly. Theses have punctually been left on their doorstep to avoid any contact and keep them safe. 1.200 grocery bags were also delivered to the family in need, but this is just the start. We’ll be helping families until the end of the year, together with the staff of our front office, Specchio Point. We aim to help 400 families a month, 3000 families until the end of 2020. Each family will receive an economical help and a grocery bag, that will be delivered at home. This past week we have launched an announcement to help 220 small industries in the area of Turin with a grant of 5000 euros. This initiative was born together with Reale Group and has already gathered over 600 requests.

We haven’t forgot about the schools. 168 sanitizing kits have been delivered in March. 750 tablets have been distributed to the schools to help the children that come from families that live a difficult situation to help them to stay in school. Together with the Agnelli Foundation we launched an e-learning platform. Our job doesn’t stop here. We have printed  billboards for schools and public offices with the safety regulations against Covid-19.

Our schedule for the next months is extremely dense. We’ll be concentrating on helping the families and the small businesses with the idea of replicating the grant in other areas of the Region. We’ll also keep a close eye on the healthcare sector and the evolution of the emergency.

Specchio dei tempi has acted as a model. Starting this week Specchio d’Italia will take action. Thanks to the request of some entities that have given us the resources to reproduce our projects also in other regions such as Lombardy, Liguria, Veneto and Friuli. The heart of Specchio dei tempi belongs to Turin and the Region of Piedmont, but we believe that this experience is for all.

By Lucia Caretti & Francesca Giannotti

One mask has been delivered to the Mauriziano hospital today, by our testimonial Barbara Bonansea, directly to the general manager Maurizio Dall’Acqua. This afternoon, Specchio dei tempi has donated the millionth piece of equipment for personal protection to a hospital. A record for the Foundation of “La Stampa” that for the past 50 days has been working non-stop in the fight against Coronavirus. We have supplied 120 structures with gloves, masks, visors, goggles, coats and shoe-covers in the entire Piedmont Region.

“If you keep supporting us, we’ll be able to continue to distribute aids”, states Barbara Bonansea, who’s operating as a volunteer and helping with the distributions. “Thanks to your help we have managed to work in complete safety, because you have supplied us with equipment that was almost impossible to find” says Dall’Acqua. The subscription has almost reached 9 million of euros, and this morning we have counted over 14 thousand donations. Another important milestone for the historic onlus.

By Angelo Conti & Francesca Giannotti

Up to today we have distributed over 1 million PPE materials to 121 entities which include: hospitals, public assistance and healthcare organizations, foundations, associations, companies, retirement homes and individuals. We have also donated 144 machineries to 19 hospitals in turin and within the Piedmont Region. These include: 58 medical instruments, 41 beds for the intensive care unit, 27 pieces of furniture for different divisions of the hospitals, 6 softwares, 2 CT scans (one permanent and a mobile one). We have also supplied the hospitals with tablets and devices to help the patients  communicate with their families.

We have rented a Boeing 767 to transfer a team of 38 doctors and nurses from Cuba to help the medical staff that has been designated to the new Healthcare Structure in the OGR dedicated to Covid patients. We have also put our SpecchioBus (a Ducato mini-bus with two ambulatories inside) at disposal of the Local Health Authorities so that they can move around the territory and take tampons samples.

 

By Angelo Conti & Francesca Giannotti

Our work to help obstruct the Coronavirus has started on the 9th of March and hasn’t stopped ever since. We have concentrated a great part of our strengths on the healthcare, but here’s what we are doing for those who are most in need.

GROCERY BAGS FOR THE ELDERLY: we have donated 5.400 grocery bags to seniors over 80 years of age, or over 65 with economical difficulties. Together with the logistic help of Crescere 1979 and the Terza Settimana Association we have managed to hand out 93,5 tons of goods. All deliveries have been done following the new regulations in order to keep the elderly safe.

SUPPORT TO THE FAMILIES: in order to help 1.000 families in need, we have activated a program that includes the distribution of grocery bags and gives out an economical support. The beneficiaries have been identified within the indigent families (who have been verified) who have requested for help at our front office (Specchio Point). In the bags we also include a dozen of masks for the family members. Everyday we donate 150 groceries that weigh 20 kilos each. We have already distributed 300 of these in the last two days, for a total of 6 tons of good. We will continue with the donations next week.

“A BREATH FOR TURIN” GRANT: Specchio dei tempi has designated 1.000.000 of euros to support 220 small enterprises (small commercial activities, shops and artisans). Reale Mutua is supporting our project with a contribution of 100.000 euros. The grant is still being defined and will be made public by La Stampa and our social media pages this week.

MOTHERS AND CHILDREN IN NEED: we have already delivered 100 grocery bags to the the 100 single moms that are part of the project “Mothers and children in need”. They are also assisted by a daily support phone line. We have already planned to send a second batch of groceries during the month of May.

SUPPORTING THE HOMELESS: in order to help those without a home, we have  provided Sister Cristina (of Casa Santa Luisa shelter) with a cell-phone for direct assistance. Also, we helped authorize the canopy of the courtyard so that the structure is able to give out food to the poor outside without breaking the rules. Also, we have managed to hand out 500 maks.

SPECCHIO & TECH: we have also activated an online page for the elderly. This landing is continuously updated and explains them, in the most simple way possible, how to use technology equipments in order to help them through this emergency. The link has been shared to all of those senior that our part of our “Computer technology has no age” project organized by Circolo Informatico.

DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD TO THE CAFETERIAS: Many companies have asked for our help to distribute food to the  cafeterias that welcome those in need. A special thanks goes to Battaglio, Grissifinicio linea Derby, Peyrano, il Buon Riso and Eataly.

PET FOOD DISTRIBUTION: thanks to a generous donation by Morando Pet Food we can deliver pet food to those family who live in desperate situations.

IT’S BEEN A BUSY COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT WE WON’T STOP NOW.
We’ve donated hundreds thousands of masks and other personal protection equipment to the hospitals and other sanitary structures, including retirement homes. We have reached 19 hospitals in total to whom we’ve donated a total  of 144 machineries and furnitures for their reanimation centers.  In the meantime our subscription has reached almost 9 million euros through 13 thousand donations. You can all be part of our team and support Specchio dei tempi by using your credit card on www.specchiodeitempi.org/donate, or through a bank transfer directly on our bank account: Specchio dei tempi, via Lugaro 15, 10126 Torino, IBAN: IT67 L0306909 6061 0000 0117 200, Banca Intesasanpaolo. You can also find us on Global Giving.

 

By Angelo Conti & Francesca Giannotti 

Specchio dei tempi strongly believes in the importance of education, this is why since the beginning of its days it is active in this sector. Throughout the years Specchio has rebuilt up to 26 schools around the world and it is used to support the education systems during difficult times with concrete and immediate help. So lets get down to the facts. This is what we are doing in this time of emergency.

SANITIZING KITS: Since the beginning of March we have distributed 165 free sanitizing kits (for a value of 500€ each) to 165 schools of Turin and in the piedmont Region.

DIGITAL SCHOOLS: Specchio dei tempi has bought 759 tablets, with their own sim card, that will be designated to children and families that live in situations of poverty and have difficulties with the e-learning programs. Up to 250 have already been distributed while the rest will be given out in the next 10 days. With this project we aim to cover up to 15 schools.

LONG DISTANCE TEACHING: through the use of a e-learning platforms we are offering a program (together with the Agnelli Foundation and Reale Mutua) that will allow the children to follow their classes online and have one-to-one lessons with their tutors.

SAVING THE KIDS: the funds for the historical project financed by Specchio dei tempi, and put into action together with the Association Lorenzo Grco Onlus, have been reallocated. We’ve created an online platform where all the major rescue practices are illustrated. These course are held by a pediatrician and also focus on how the children live their lives now that they are forced to spend their days at home.

BILLBOARDS AND ANTI-COVID EQUIPMENT: Starting the first week of May Specchio dei tempi will be delivering to 150 schools all the sanitary materials (such as sanitizing dispensers) requested by the regulation. Billboards with the new regulations will also be supplied.

 

OTHER ONGOING PROJECTS
All the other projects proceed regularly. We’ve donated hundreds thousands of masks and other personal protection equipment to the hospitals and other sanitary structures, including retirement homes.. We have reached 19 hospitals in total to whom we’ve donated a total  of 144 machineries and furnitures for their reanimation centers.
In the meantime our subscription has reached almost 9 million euros through 13 thousand donations. You can all be part of our team and support Specchio dei tempi by using your credit card on www.specchiodeitempi.org/donate, or through a bank transfer directly on our bank account: Specchio dei tempi, via Lugaro 15, 10126 Torino, IBAN: IT67 L0306909 6061 0000 0117 200, Banca Intesasanpaolo. You can also find us on Global Giving.

 

The second CT scan donated by Specchio dei tempi is now up and running. A Canon-Toshiba Aquilon has been set in no-time at the Martini Hospital. This machine, of the value of 305.000 euros, was bought in Holland and donated by La Stampa’s readers to the local health authority of the city of Turin. “This machine is vital, as it will allow us to examine Covid patients that arrive in the ER where we had a very old model. This new equipment is a like a miracle” says Elisabetta Sardi, health director of the hospital. The sanitary technicians of the Radiology unit and all of the nurses wanted to thank the Foundation: “You have supplied us with a forefront machine that is technologically advanced and will help us in this battle that has brought us to fight  in first line”.

Another CT scan has already been donated twenty days ago and it is functioning at the Amedeo di Savoia Hospital. This machine, that has been rented for three months, has been set on a truck and will remain in use of the Martini Hospital after  the emergency. Also, the Martini has received 26 electrically powered bed that have arrived from Poland.  

MORE OF SPECCHIO’S PROJECT TO FIGHT THE VIRUS
In this last month, where our team has worked non-stop, Specchio has managed to delivered over 850 thousand PPE materials such as: masks, coats, shoe-covers, gloves, goggles, visors and caps. These equipments have been given out to 90 different structures that include: hospitals, organizations of public assistance, retirement homes, charities, family doctors and volunteer firefighters. Specchio has also donated 146 machineries and furniture to the reanimation units and ERs of 16 hospitals in the Piedmont Region. 
You can all help to support these initiatives by donating by using your credit card on www.specchiodeitempi.org/donate, or through a bank transfer directly on our bank account: Specchio dei tempi, via Lugaro 15, 10126 Torino, IBAN: IT67 L0306909 6061 0000 0117 200, Banca Intesasanpaolo. You can also find us on Global Giving.

By Lucia Caretti & Francesca Giannotti

Thanks to the prosperous winter seasons, the mountain views, the skiing facilities, and the support of a ski-instructor of Bardonecchia who, for years, has been working in the tourist business with Beijing. He has embraced our most innovative initiative: seeking for help in China. We’ve started by translating our projects in Chinese characters, and yesterday 60 thousand masks, donated by a Chinese enterprise, have arrived at Malpensa. These will be distributed in the next days.

“When we first visited the Turinese Alps, we have been warmly welcomed by the Italian population: we felt them very close”. This is how Liu Guogang, manager of the operation and and who lead the group of influencers sent here in December by Torino Turismo, remembers his experience here in Italy. “Once we arrived back we wanted to strengthen our relationship with the office of Tourism, but unfortunately the Covid-19 didn’t make this possible. When we saw that the emergency in Italy had outgrown, we took immediate action to help you fight this battle”.

Luca Ballet, 31 year old from Bardonecchia, who has act as intermediary between us, is the founder of China Italy Experience, a business that attracts many investors like Mr. Guogang. Liu, is the president of a television network dedicated to snow sports and golf that attracts millions of viewers online. Through the use of his media, he has managed to convince several entrepreneurs to help finance the equipment for Specchio dei tempi. To be precise: we received 60 thousand masks that have been produced by the Fu Lijia company and sent directly to us in Italy. Specchio dei tempi was, on the other side, in charge of the transfer and has dealt  with all the international bureaucracy, managing to have the products arrive in no time.

As an act of friendship and support, our Chinese friends had organized a small ceremony to celebrate the departure of the masks. This has all been documented by Guogang’s network. The banners stated, in Chinese characters, a message of solidarity that has been brought forward from many Eastern Countries: “We are waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same garden”.

Other donors such as Mr Linzhijie, who has sent us 4000 masks that have already been donate to the Rivoli hospital (near Turin). The 60 thousand masks from Beijing will not be delivered to the healthcare units, but to the families in need and to the association Nuova generazione italo-cinese and to other charity associations.

The healthcare structures that have already beneficiated of over 900 thousand PPE equipments are over a hundred, between hospitals and other entities. Dozens of machineries, bought and donated by Specchio dei tempi, have been installed in this last month.

It is incredible what has been possible with the help of 13 thousand donations, of which 30 are from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Donating is still possible. You can contribute by using your credit card here, or through a bank transfer directly on our bank account: Specchio dei tempi, via Lugaro 15, 10126 Torino, IBAN: IT67 L0306909 6061 0000 0117 200, Banca Intesasanpaolo. You can also find us on Global Giving.

The Juventus player Barbara Bonansea deliveries 4 thousand chirurgical masks to the Hospital of Rivoli for Specchio dei tempi

WE ARE DEFINITELY STRONGER TOGETHER: A BOEING 767 FROM CUBA HAS LANDED WITH A TEAM OF 38 DOCTORS AND NURSES IN TURIN TODAY.

By Angelo Conti & Francesca Giannotti

This morning at 9 am, a team of 21 doctors and 17 nurses have landed at the Caselle airport of Turin in order to help the Piedmont Region fight Covid-19 until the sanitary crisis requires them to. The “brigade”, who has been immediately tested, is made of highly competent operators that are specialized in dealing with emergencies, and will be operating in the new temporary sanitary structure of Turin designated for Covid-19 patients. This is an incredible act of solidarity and international collaboration.

The major of Turin, Chiara Appendino, the President of the Region Alberto Cirio, the Prefect Claudio Palomba and the Cuban Ambassador Josè Carlo Rodriguez Ruiz welcomed the team this morning when the plane first landed. Everything has been possible thanks to the team of Specchio dei tempi, who has organized the trip, and the support of Lavazza.

The Ambassador, Josè Carlo Rodriguez Ruiz explains: “Solidarity is ingrained in our culture. Our sanitary brigade has arrived in humbleness, in order to support the Italian doctors during this emergency. We have sent brigades in 21 countries across the world because we believe that we need to face this challenge together in order to win it. This is all that Cuba has to offer. Now, we need to get to work. Our doctors will be offering their experience and knowhow in support of the Italian healthcare”.

“We are extremely grateful to Cuba and the doctors and nurses that have volunteered to help during this harsh time”, states the Alberto Cirio, President of the Region. “I also wish to thank the Farnesina, the Minister of Healthcare, the National Civil Protection who have supported this initiative, and mainly Ambassador Ruiz who has helped when in contact with the Cuban government while exposing our request. – he continues – A special thanks also goes to Specchio dei tempi and Lavazza who have promptly organized everything to make this happen”.

As a sign of gratitude, Ambassador Ruiz stopped by at La Stampa to gift Specchio dei tempi with a Cuban flag. Marco Zatterin, deputy editor-in-chief of La Stampa and Lucia Gallo, representative of Specchio dei tempi, have welcomed him and presented him with two boxes of Peyrano Chocolates from Turin. Once again this couldn’t have been possible without the support of the people, companies and entities who strongly believe in our work.

HOW TO DONATE
It’s a very difficult time, but everyone can help Specchio. Donations can be done by Paypal or credit card on our website here, or through bank transit by registering it to Specchio dei tempi, via Lugaro 15, 10126 Torino, IBAN: IT67 L0306909 6061 0000 0117 200, Banca Intesasanpaolo; BIC/Swift: BCITITMM, or on the Global Giving platform.
Info: www.specchiodeitempi.org/covid19