COFACE and CSB onlus hostеd a study visit on the topic of fathers and child care. in Trieste, Italy from 11 to 14 December. Twelve participants from Poland (Share The Care), Bulgaria (Tulip Foundation) and the COFACE secretariat in Brussels specialised in education and family support spent a couple of days exploring the practical experience of our Italian colleagues.

The aim of the visit was to learn more about the work of CSB onlus (new COFACE member based in Italy) and bring COFACE members with similar interests and expertise to study their work, in order to foster mutual learning across countries. Some of the Polish participants visited Udine Hospital. Another small group visited Neonatal Unit at the Burlo Garofolo Institute.

Tulip Foundation invited partners from the NGO Club in Targovishte, Future for Children Association in Kazanluk, National Centre for Public Health and Maternity hospital in Targovishte. Together we spent the morning at Villaggio per Crescere – family centre in Trieste. There we learn about the activities and the visiting families. These are similar to the work of our colleagues who develop the Sure start programme for children in Bulgaria.  

We all had a general meeting at the office of CSB. It was focused on CSB activities with special attention paid to the work about fathers’ engagement. We also met online Dr. Gina Ancora, of Rimini’s Neonatal Unit and Andrea Santoro, coordinator of the Circle of Fathers. After following their interesting presentations on the results and the challenges in years of experience, we raised numerous questions.