Best Practices of the Dianova Network

In the framework of the annual meetings of the Dianova Network, representatives of nine member organizations shared their projects and best practices

Dianova network

Some of the representatives of the Dianova Network’s member organizations – Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

Sharing best practices is essential to improve the quality of our interventions and to the development and organization of experiences dedicated to changing social realities. Practices that are working in specific contexts and environments can help us make a common reflection, question ourselves, learn and promote higher-quality actions. Ten of the organizations member of the Dianova Network presented their projects and best practices during the annual meetings of the Dianova Network, on May 24, 2019.

Dianova Chile

Davide Brundu, director of Dianova Chile, presented the “e-learning education” training project, a project with great potential for the Dianova Network.

Dianova Chile has just completed the first cycle of the “Promoters of Social Change” course, an initiative carried out in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Government of Chile.

The initiative, which began its design in 2018, became a reality with the online e-learning platform aimed at Agents of Social Change and covering four thematic areas: Leadership and Teamwork, Prevention of Risk Behavior (Violence and Drugs), Design of Social Projects and, a fourth module designed for content integration and culminating with a social project.

In the near future, the platform will expand its courses to become a training tool for the entire Dianova Network.

Davide Brundu appealed to the Dianova network’s various professionals to join the project.

Davide Brundo, Dianova Chile

Davide Brundo, Dianova Chile –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

Dianova Italy

Pierangelo Puppo, president of Dianova Italia, presented the “Integrated Training Project on Identity”.

We live in a VUCA World where Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity are omnipresent, making it essential to adapt our organizational identity through adequate analysis and planning. We must evolve, relying on the organization’s beneficial features to face these new scenarios, and taking measures about those that are obstacles to this evolution.

In other words, we must know our own Organizational Identity and be able to consolidate the organization’s positive elements in order to adapt to changes without getting lost.

Pierangelo Puppo, Dianova Italy

Pierangelo Puppo, Dianova Italy –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

Dianova Nicaragua

Hugo M. España, president of the Dianova Nicaragua Foundation and Alberto León, member of the Foundation’s Board of Director, presented the project “Promoting Healthcare and Wellbeing Networks for Young People, Adolescents and their Families”, co-funded by the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).

This project creates the conditions for adolescents and young people from vulnerable communities to develop and strengthen social skills that enable them to build their identity and become the protagonists in the promotion, restitution, exercise and defense of their rights, in the objective of achieving integral development.

Alberto León, Dianova Nicaragua

Alberto León, Dianova Nicaragua –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

Dianova Portugal

Marta Santos, Director of Human Resources at Dianova Portugal, spoke about “Gender Equality in Action”, through the practices Dianova Portugal has been implementing over the years, both internally and externally, and for the beneficiaries of Dianova’s programmes.

From 2011 to the present day, a number of initiatives have been implemented, beginning with a diagnostic phase, the definition of policies and the implementation of a Committee for Equality. These steps resulted in providing employees with adequate training and in achieving public recognition through certifications such as EFR (Family Responsible organization) and the recognition by the iGen Forum of Organizations dedicated to Equality.

Marta Santos, Dianova Portugal

Marta Santos, Dianova Portugal –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

Dianova Uruguay

Fabrizio Glisenti, director of the Dianova Uruguay Foundation, shared a best practice dedicated to the systematization and evaluation of the therapeutic processes of the Chanaes treatment center for dual pathology.

Fabrizio emphasized the importance of collecting data on the reality of the people with whom we work and of analyzing to whom interventions are directed in order to improve treatment processes and outcomes. Ongoing improvement – Quality – Ethics.

It should be noted that this tool was taken as a model for public policy design by the National Council on Drugs

Fabrizio Glisenti, Dianova Uruguay

Fabrizio Glisenti, Dianova Uruguay –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

Dianova USA

Victoria Espada, representative of Dianova International in the United States, presented the work of Dianova in this country, where an active presence is maintained in the meetings of the United Nations Organization (New York) and the Organization of American States (OAS, Washington DC). Victorial also described Dianova’s participation in international organizations related to the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, such as CoNGO, NYNGO Committee on Drugs, NGO Committee on Migration, NGO Committee on Mental Health, NGO Committee on the Status of Women, and NGO Major Group.

Victoria highlighted the importance of aligning the work of local NGOs with the, as well as complementing fieldwork with advocacy initiatives and information campaigns.

María Victoria Espada, Dianova USA

María Victoria Espada, Dianova USA – Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

Drustvo UP (Slovenia)

Robin Turk, representative of Drustvo UP, reported on the increase in substance use among adolescents and their subsequent higher demands for treatment. The organization’s programme for young people with substance use disorders is now adapting to this reality and more and more adolescents aged 13 to 17 years are now requesting treatment.

To respond to social demands, the organization also created additional programmes, including the “Parent Group”, the first program in Slovenia that allows parents to be involved with their children’s treatment process, and a programme for adults with long-term substance abuse and a programme specifically dedicated to young women’s needs.

More about Drustvo UP –  EspañolEnglishFrançais

Robin Turk, Drustvo Up

Robin Turk, Drustvo Up –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

GRADH (Togo)

Eugène Yawo, representative of GRADH (Reflection Group of Friends for Human Development) shared how, through theatrical performances, stories and songs, the GRADH focuses on changing people’s behaviour in order to educate, raise awareness, prevent the spread of communicable diseases and promote good hygiene practices to improve the health of the community.

The strategy is to meet the populations in the streets, public places, markets, churches, mosques and schools while carrying key messages transmitted on the scene. Through laughter, spectators learn the lessons that are hidden in sketches, stories or songs.

Eugène Etse, GRADH

Eugène Etse, GRADH –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

RIO (Norvège) Organisation de défense des usagers de substances

Kenneth Arctander, director of communication at RIO, gave a presentation entitled “From punishment to help”. All employees and volunteers of the RIO organization are people who have had substance use-related problems. The organization’s vision is that “All people with substance use problems should have access to the services they need, when they need them.”

The main objective of RIO is to influence political decisions, so they maintain a close relationship with decision makers in order to generate changes for the benefit of people. To exercise this influence, they create the RIO Report each year on a specific issue, then the RIO Debate is organized through a dedicated symposium with experts in the field. Lastly RIO organizes a panel enabling politicians to look at drug-related issues and realities with different eyes.

Kenneth Arctander, RIO

Kenneth Arctander, RIO –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved

Dianova International

Dianova International presented a study on the regulation and legalization of therapeutic and recreational cannabis. The objective of this study is to promote a comprehensive and objective debate that would hopefully result in a consensus in this regard among the Dianova network. In-depth interviews are being carried out with people related to the addiction field, including international experts, policy makers, legal experts, researchers, teachers, drug counselors and beneficiaries. It is expected to present the results of the study during the General Assembly in 2020.

Lucía Goberna, Dianova International

Lucía Goberna, Dianova International –  Photo: Daniel Urrutia, all rights reserved