Young Friends of Gemelli
ABOUT US
During the pandemic, I wanted to find a way to help in the healthcare sector. I founded the Gemelli Junior Trust, a.k.a Young Friends of Gemelli, by reaching out a group of students from various high schools in the greater Rome region.
The Young Friends of Gemelli serve the Gemelli Hospital with special projects and needs not funded directly by the hospital budget. We work hand in hand with Gemelli leadership and administration to identify areas of need within the hospital and translate this into solutions and impact. We are supporting the patient-oriented and innovative approach of the Gemelli Hospital through the creation of special initiatives and the introduction of art and new technologies within the hospital.
To learn more, visit: Young Friends of Gemelli
The Gemelli Hospital
Rome, Italy
The Polyclinico Gemelli Hospital is considered one of the largest private university hospitals in Europe and number one in Italy. Our mission is to provide the Polyclinico Gemelli Hospital of Rome with support for selected initiatives while promoting the well-being of patients, across a range of hospital departments through the work of young volunteers.
We aim to support the unique patient-centric, holistic, and innovative approach of the Gemelli Hospital by focusing on special projects and funding the introduction of new technologies. We understand that the Gemelli Hospital budget may not allow for all the initiatives for patients that can be brought through private funding. Therefore we created the Young Friends of Gemelli to fill this gap, looking for projects that will make a difference. Through the thoughtful use of technology, well-being, and arts, we hope to help underscore the patient-centered and family-focused environment that defines their stay in an atmosphere that will have a positive effect on their recovery and the way patients, families, staff, and community members view their experience at the Gemelli Hospital.
Projects
TOY DRIVE
In December 2022 the Young Friends of Gemelli initiated a Christmas Toy Drive to bring Christmas cheer and well-being to over 45 children who were spending the holidays in the pediatric department. Over three weeks over 300 toys and books were donated from school families and libraries. Just before Christmas, the Young Friends of Gemelli visited the Gemelli Hospital pediatrics department where they were met by the director who assisted them in meeting and distributing the toys to patients from the ages of 2 to 17 years of age.
The success of this exciting day for the kids brought a ray of light onto the rest of the work that we have been working on with the hospital, bringing brighter days to the patients of the hospital. The Vatican, which owns the hospital, wanted to thank us for our ongoing initiatives, inviting us to the Pope’s Public assembly. A few Young Friends of Gemelli were able to sit in and listen to Pope Francis give his address and afterward had the opportunity to meet his Holiness. What an incredible way to celebrate!
LIBRARY CORNER & ACTIVITY CENTRE
We also provided the hospital with the books and educational toys necessary to create a corner library and activity centre with the purpose of giving the young hospitalized children the opportunity to read, play and share time together with their families in a playful, light environment during their medical stay. The project is awaiting clearance due Covid restrictions.
NEW TECHNOLOGY: COLD CAP AND COOLING SYSTEM
In December 2023, we committed to bringing a new and important technology to cancer patients at the Gemelli Hospital, the cold cap and scalp cooling system. This equipment helps patients mitigate hair loss at Gemelli ART (the Radiation Oncology Department of Policlinico Gemelli during chemotherapy. We realized that hair loss which often accompanies chemotherapy marks a patient's lives deeply and reduces their ability to respond positively to treatments. We raised $34.000 for this technology through a GoFundMe action and then sought private matching funds from leading Italian corporations. And now, upon the successful completion of this project, we are pleased to give the opportunity to the patients who have to undergo these therapies to preserve their image, maintain their self-esteem, and increase resilience.
More Projects
BREAST MILK DRIVE
We are planning to collaborate with the hospital to develop a breast milk bank where young volunteers will participate in the picking up and delivery of breast milk from donors around the city under the safety measures regulated by the hospital. For babies who receive donor milk, it is a precious resource, and babies who benefit most are very premature babies (born at 28 weeks or less), babies weighing less than 1500 grams at birth, or babies who have had surgery on their intestines.
MAAXI MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP: Inspiring Hope, Inspiring Healing
The MAXXI Museum is home to the leading contemporary art and architecture collection in Rome, making it one of the largest and most important visual arts exhibition spaces in Italy.
We continue to research innovative ways to bring well-being, education, and personal growth into the medical environment. We are currently collaborating with Professor Vincenzo Valentini to bring the Maxxi Museum to the Gemelli Hospital. Work is being done with the artists, curators, the Maaxi and hospital to install to unique video art. This program will strive to complement and support holistic patient care and healing through the curative power of art. The arts also reflect the diversity of Italy’s artistic community and history, creating connections through shared human experience.
FUTURE PLANS: Casa Gemelli
We want to help to fund the hospital’s remarkable project, the Casa Gemelli, which envisages the construction of a six-room building where families of hospitalized patients can stay free of charge to accompany their loved ones during their medical journey. Out-of-town patients will be able to receive out-patient care at Gemelli through accessing Casa Gemelli accommodation, while out of town families will be able to be present and support the healing of their family members. Every day in Italy, 240 children need to leave their hometowns to find cures, and this project aims to support them to realize their medical needs with their parents at their side.