Giorgina Venosta – Portraits: Giorgina and animals

Giorgina loves animals; from a young age, photographs capture her embracing the family dogs, and there will always be at least one in her life—like the much-mentioned cocker, Twidy—up to the five wonderful white Maremma sheepdogs that she and her second husband, Aldo Bassetti, pamper and spoil in the villa park in Monate, on Lake Varese.

She and Bassetti, also serving as Board Members of FEGV, are among the first in Italy to combine solidarity with a love for animals by funding the innovative “Progetto Arca” initiative. This project provides a home for homeless people with pets—those who are not accepted in shelters and dormitories and who, rather than being forced to abandon their only source of affection, are willing to sleep outdoors. In 2021, thanks in no small part to their fundamental support, “Cascina Vita Nova” was inaugurated in the Baggio area of Milan—a facility comprising apartments designed to welcome homeless individuals along with their four-legged companions. These people are not only removed from the streets, but the aim is to empower them with the motivation and skills needed to take control of their lives, eventually achieving independence with a home and a job of their own. Moreover, “Cascina Vita Nova,” born in a challenging neighborhood, aspires to be not just a hospitable shelter but also a community hub, offering services such as a hairdresser, a canteen, a social market, and even a social wardrobe.

And while “Cascina Vita Nova” is a project that we hope will expand with additional facilities, the Baggio center has been dedicated in memory of the one who passionately championed it: Giorgina Venosta.

Bibliography:
G. CAPROTTI, Le ossa dei Caprotti. Una storia italiana, Milano, 2024/3.
The Housing Network of Progetto Arca (https://www.progettoarca.org/cosa-facciamo/casa/).