We are all so much more similar than different. We dream, we connect, we suffer, we die. Too many suffer way too much unnecessarily. Prevention based on deep empathy is a powerful engine to take care of humanity.
A life dedicated to serving others
I am a feminist, a humanist, a believer in goodness and the power of collaboration. I am an optimist, in awe of what human beings can achieve when they really want to reach a goal.
My mission is to contribute to putting human extraordinary capacity to make rapid, significant, and lasting positive change in the life of children.
Violence is one of the most terrible scourges of society, particularly violence against children. I have dedicated my life to preventing violence because violence is indeed preventable. There is no fate associated to it. It depends on us all to prevent it. I always think that if we could go to the Moon, how couldn’t we solve the most critical issue that determines societies’ future?
My life’s purpose is to unlock smart action and support visionary and committed decision-makers and practitioners be more effective in their goal to serve children and prevent violence. I am here to serve and my responsibility is to provide the most effective action and impact-oriented strategic guidance to amplify results with and for those who need it the most.
Empathy
Empathy
Kindness
Kindness
Kindness is our most precious ability as human beings. It is our most effective antidote to so many diseases. As violence is not a given and can be unlearnt, kindness can be learnt and relearnt so that it becomes our most precious and effective habit.
Rigor
Rigor
Modern violence prevention is based on science, on rigorous evidence that shows which interventions work and which ones do not. We build on 30+ years of research when it comes to mitigating risk factors for violence and its actual perpetration.
Impact
Impact
Working on preventing violence is not a job, nor a hobby, nor an option. It is a mission, a results-based mission. When we have lived on a daily basis with girls, boys, women and men who suffer from violence, we can’t let it go. It is a strong drive to make positive and lasting impact happen despite all the obstacles on the way.
Courage
Courage
Preventing violence is all about courage as it requires denouncing the status quo and fighting to change unequal societal structures -like patriarchy- that sustain and endorse the use of violence as a way to sustain abusive power.
Humility
Humility
Preventing all forms of violence is complex and can easily become overwhelming.
We don’t have all the solutions, yet we know enough to act now. Our responsibility is to take all the measures we know work, co-create solutions with those first concerned, and always act with humility.
When passion meets with commitment, knowledge and experience – and a strong focus on results and action, everything becomes possible.
Something About Me
Since I was 15 years old, I have had a clear sense of a mission to dedicate my life to children’s rights. I have never hesitated nor changed my mind. So, I built a unique path to reach my goal and serve others to the most of my abilities. I started with foundational field experiences with disadvantaged children in Mexico, India and Montenegro. I lived and worked with them on a daily basis. This taught me what injustices and discrimination really mean, and gave me an unstoppable drive to fight for justice and peace. I also focused on building a strong, multi-disciplinary academic background, studying political sciences, law, management and public policy at world-class universities. My PhD focused on finding ways to mainstream inclusive violence prevention in the Development Agenda. As with my studies, my professional experiences are diverse and combine policymaking, programming and evaluation at the local, national and global levels. Such exposures and responsibilities developed in me practical and strategic skills that help me be very fast and effective in finding entry points for impact.
I have a truly global and multicultural background. I have worked in more than 25 countries, lived in 12, speak fluently French, Spanish, English and Portuguese, and have working proficiency in Italian, Hindi and Serbian.
I am an animal lover, mum of a beautiful independent kitty, I can’t live without flowers nearby, and am a life-long admirer of Paul Eluard whose poems have always brought inspiration and beauty to my life.
From my gallery
Take a look at some pictures of great moments along my career.
