On 22 April 2026, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm CET, Foligno, in the Umbria region of Italy, will host a key dissemination event of the Resilient Responders project, bringing together experts, practitioners, civil protection volunteers, institutional representatives, project partners and stakeholders to explore how mental health, leadership and cooperation can transform disaster response systems.
address of Centro Studi: Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 123, 06034 Foligno PG
Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FpT2qZ2mzcY5aeCF7
Co-funded by the European Union, the Resilient Responders project is dedicated to strengthening the psychological resilience of disaster response personnel. By providing tailored training, practical mental health tools and a digital knowledge-sharing platform, the project aims to equip responders with the skills needed to cope with high-stress and traumatic situations, while preventing burnout and long-term psychological impact.
Within this framework, the Foligno event represents a major opportunity to share project results and foster dialogue among key actors in the field. Hosted at the Centro Studi Città di Foligno, the event will focus on emergency psychology, mental health, leadership and inter-institutional coordination, highlighting how these dimensions are essential for effective and sustainable disaster response.
The programme will feature contributions from distinguished speakers and project partners, including Altheo Valentini (EGInA), Stefan Rathert (KSU), Danilo Calabrese (EGInA), Yavuz Orak (KSU), Elçin Kamalak (TENGO) and Nikolina Zervou (IED). Their presentations will address key topics such as psychological training for civil protection volunteers in Italy, the role of mental well-being and leadership in operational effectiveness, strategies to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation in disaster management, and the presentation of the project’s multilingual online training platform and best-practice resources.
Designed for emergency response professionals, volunteers, policy makers, training organisations, researchers and local authorities, the event aims to create a space for exchange and collaboration. A dedicated Q&A and open discussion session will allow participants to share insights, experiences and recommendations for future action.
More than a dissemination moment, the event serves as a platform to connect research, training and real-world practice. By fostering dialogue among professionals and institutions across Europe, Resilient Responders contributes to building a stronger, more prepared and more human-centred disaster response community.